Banned Cueto's World Cup bonus

Mark Cueto has been given a nine-week ban after pleading guilty to making contact with the face of Northampton's Christian Day.

The 31-year-old wing was hit with the ban after he pleaded guilty to "making contact with the eye or eye area" of Day during Sale Sharks' 53-24 Premiership defeat by Northampton on April 2.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) judged his actions a mid-range offence but halved the normal ban of 18 weeks after Cueto gave "compelling mitigation". As a result Cueto will now be free to play in the World Cup in New Zealand this September.

"At the hearing Cueto did not contest the citing and he was suspended for nine weeks," the RFU said.

"The suspension runs from 4 April to 6 June and he can resume playing on 7 June.

"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% discount."

The start of the ban will date back to April 4, the same day he was handed a six-week internal suspension by Sale, which means Cueto will miss the remainder of the domestic season. But he will be able to link up with England for their summer training camp on June 20 ahead of the August internationals against Wales and Ireland.