Wales superstar Gavin Henson could miss the entire RBS Six Nations after being called before a disciplinary hearing for his clash with Alex Moreno during the Ospreys' 17-15 Heineken Cup defeat by Leicester.
Moreno was left with a broken nose after Henson reacted badly to a swinging arm from the Leicester prop before aiming a kick, which missed, at the floored Italian when he hit the ground.
Henson has been cited by European Rugby Cup match commissioner Bill Dunlop on two counts [2014] for striking and kicking an opponent with the latter offence alone entailing a minimum punishment of a three-month ban.
If the hearing takes a dim view of the incidents they could throw the book at the 23-year-old centre with the full three months sidelining him until March 19 [2014] a day after Wales' final Six Nations clash, with France.
Such a suspension will mean he will not have appeared in a Wales jersey for more than a year with the next available opportunity for him to add to his 16 caps arriving on next summer's tour to Argentina.
However, if the hearing takes account of any mitigating circumstances and his previous good record the length of suspension could be reduced.
A lengthy ban would mark the latest chapter of a miserable six months for Henson, who was forced out of the Lions tour with concussion and then picked up groin and back injuries which excluded him from Wales' November Tests.
The Heineken Cup Pool Three clash with Leicester was his first start of the season after making a substitute appearance against the Tigers the previous weekend.
Ospreys lock Ian Evans has also been called before the disciplinary panel for what appeared to be a kick on Harry Ellis in the same match, leaving the England scrum-half with knee ligament damage. ..SUPL:
