Rugby Player Suspended For Eye-Gouging Full Video

Cueto had already been suspended for six weeks by Sale after appearing to make contact with the eye or eye area of Northampton lock Christian Day in his team's 53-24 defeat on April 2.

"At the hearing Cueto did not contest the citing and he was suspended for nine weeks. The suspension runs from April 4 to June 6 and he can resume playing on June 7," the RFU said in a statement after a disciplinary hearing.

"The panel decided this was a mid-entry offence, which attracts a ban of 18 weeks, but because of the player's compelling mitigation he received the full 50 percent discount."

Cueto, a key member of the England side that won the 2011 Six Nations, will miss the rest of the domestic season.

British and Irish Lions winger Luke Fitzgerald felt a finger enter his right eye during the Springbok's dramatic second Test victory over the Lions on the weekend.