Saracens lock Maro Itoje's citing complaint dismissed

Saracens lock Maro Itoje will be available to play with immediate effect after his citing complaint has been dismissed.

Itoje was sin-binned by referee Luke Pearce after consultation with television match official (TMO) David Rose for a tackle on Alfie Barbeary in the 29th minute of the encounter.

He appeared before an independent disciplinary panel on Tuesday with the panel chaired by Philip Evans as they deemed the contact made by Itoje wasn't intentional and hence cleared him off the charges.

“The panel heard and considered evidence from Maro Itoje and the Bath player and were able to examine the footage of the incident many times and from many different angles,” Evans said.

“In particular, the panel watched the footage from the rear view of Itoje which, when considered alongside the rest of the footage, demonstrated it was more likely than not that contact was not initially with the head or simultaneously with the head and the body.

“Instead, contact with the head appears to come later and can properly be described as more glancing than direct in nature.

“In all of the circumstances, the panel did not conclude that a high degree of danger was created and therefore the on-field decision stands.

“The player is free to play with immediate effect.”

Saracens are positioned second in the Gallagher Premiership table with 10 wins from 16 matches.