Henco Venter banned six weeks for eye-gouging incident

Glasgow Warriors forward Henco Venter has received a six-week suspension following an eye-gouging incident involving Leicester Tigers prop Dan Cole during the Investec Champions Cup Round of 16.

The incident, which occurred early in the match, was not spotted by match officials but later came under review after a formal complaint.

Venter made contact with Cole's eye area during a maul near Glasgow's tryline in the opening stages of the match. Although Cole reacted visibly, the incident went unnoticed by both the on-field referees and the television match official.

The Leicester veteran, who has over 100 England caps to his name, continued playing until the 56th minute before being substituted.

Following the match, Leicester submitted an official citing, and the matter was referred to a disciplinary panel. The hearing, which took place online, reviewed video footage and other submitted evidence before concluding that the offense warranted a six-week ban.

The panel determined the contact was serious enough to merit a lengthy suspension, aligning with World Rugby's stance on protecting player welfare.

The ban comes at a significant moment in Venter’s career. He is scheduled to leave Glasgow Warriors at the end of the season to join French club Brive, and this suspension could now reduce his availability during Glasgow’s final push in the current campaign.

Incidents of eye-gouging are treated with the utmost seriousness in rugby due to the potential for long-term injury.

The six-week suspension sends a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated, regardless of whether they are detected in real-time or after the final whistle.