France prop Uini Atonio cited for controversial tackle

France prop Uini Atonio has been cited for his high tackle on Ireland hooker Rob Herring during Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations match in Dublin.

Atonio was sin-binned in the first half of his country’s 32-19 defeat at the Aviva Stadium after his challenge forced Herring off for a head injury assessment from which he did not return.

Referee Wayne Barnes was criticised by a number of pundits for his failure to send off the 32-year-old La Rochelle player.

Atonio will attend a hearing via video conference before an independent judicial committee on Wednesday.

A Six Nations statement confirmed the New Zealand-born forward was cited for an act of foul play contrary to law 9.13.

The law states: “A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously.

“Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.”