Quinlan's place on tour in doubt

Alan Quinlan's place on the British and Irish Lions tour is in doubt tonight after he was cited for allegedly eye-gouging Leinster captain Leo Cullen in Saturday's Heineken Cup semi-final.

Quinlan, the veteran Munster flanker, has been called to appear before a European Rugby Cup disciplinary panel after television cameras appeared to capture him making contact with Cullen's "eye or eye area".

The panel will be convened at the earliest possible opportunity.

If Quinlan is found guilty he faces a minimum suspension of 12 weeks, which would almost certainly rule him out of the Lions plans for this summer's assault on world champions South Africa.

The Lions are due to fly out on May 24 with the first tour match against a Highveld XV on May 30. The first Test in Durban is on June 20.

Quinlan, 34, was a surprise selection in the 37-man Lions squad and his absence would potentially open the way for Tom Croft, who was considered the most unfortunate player to miss out on selection.

The England flanker was man-of-the-match in Leicester's dramatic penalty shootout semi-final win over Cardiff Blues yesterday.

Head coach Ian McGeechan has already had to consider one enforced change to his squad after Quinlan's Munster team-mate Tomas O'Leary suffered a fractured ankle.

No replacement scrum-half has yet been named though it is understood the Lions management met in Cardiff yesterday to discuss their options.

They will no doubt have also debated the possibility of losing Quinlan, who was selected as much for his aggressive approach on the field as his impressive character off it.

Whether the contact was deliberate or not, the television pictures from Croke Park do not make for pleasant viewing.

Eye-gouging is the one act rugby officials are determined to stamp out of the game.

Recent cases saw Northampton's Ireland flanker Neil Best banned for 18 weeks while England hooker Dylan Hartley was sidelined for 26 weeks.

Cullen remonstrated with Quinlan immediately after the alleged incident during Leinster's shock 25-6 victory. Quinlan appeared to apologise in a conversation after the match.

Cullen would not comment on the issue but Munster and Lions captain Paul O'Connell issued a positive character reference for Quinlan.

"Quinny isn't that type of guy," said O'Connell. "He is a tough player. It is the one thing he hasn't got in his record book. If it looked bad I am sure there was nothing in it."