New Zealand's Flavell cited over Hill incident

New Zealand Barbarians forward Troy Flavell has been cited after Richard Hill suffered a broken nose during Saturday's Zurich…

New Zealand Barbarians forward Troy Flavell has been cited after Richard Hill suffered a broken nose during Saturday's Zurich World Champions Challenge at Twickenham.

Saracens flanker Hill, skipper of an England XV which defeated the Barbarians 42-17, was the victim of a swinging right arm in a 60th-minute incident.

Flavell escaped censure from French referee Joel Jutge. Lock Flavell, capped 15 times by the All Blacks, now faces disciplinary action from the New Zealand Rugby Union after England's team management made an official complaint to match judicial officer, Commodore Jeff Blackett.

"Having reviewed the match video and other evidence, I have assessed that there is a prima facie case of foul play (swinging right arm to the nose) by Troy Flavell on Richard Hill in the 60th minute of yesterday's game, as a result of which Richard suffered a displaced fracture of the nose," said Blackett.

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"I have forwarded the evidence to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, who will take the appropriate action. This is in line with International Rugby Board regulations for this sort of match."

Flavell can expect a probable three-week ban, but he is no stranger to disciplinary problems, and will be in even deeper trouble if his poor record is taken into account.

He was sent off by top New Zealand referee Paddy O'Brien last February for stamping on Waikato Chiefs hooker Greg Smith's head during a Super 12 game between the Chiefs and Auckland Blues in Hamilton.

He received a 12-week suspension, which dashed his hopes of challenging for an All Blacks World Cup squad place.