Ulster star cited for alleged choke tackle on Mark Bennett

Ulster lock Alan O’Connor has been cited for an alleged choke tackle on Glasgow star Mark Bennett at the weekend.

Scotland centre Bennett passed out and was battling to breathe following the incident during the Pro12 encounter in Belfast on Saturday.

Now lineout specialist O’Connor will appear at a disciplinary hearing in Dublin to respond to the charges, brought by match commissioner Murray White.

White launched the citing process after studying video footage of the episode, which came midway through the second half at the Kingspan Stadium.

The crowd of almost 18,000 watched in shocked silence as play was held up for almost 10 minutes while Bennett was given emergency treatment on the pitch.

He was later carried off on in a neck-brace and on a spinal-injury stretcher, an oxygen mask strapped to his face.

A Pro12 spokesman confirmed: “Alan O’Connor has been cited for alleged foul play. The counts are in connection with Law 10e and Law 10m.”

The first charge relates to dangerous tackling and the second to breaching the spirit of good sportsmanship.

An independent panel will hear the case against O’Connor later this week.