The British and Irish Lions have received a boost ahead of their series decider against South Africa after Kyle Sinckler was cleared of any wrongdoing in their second Test.
Sinckler, 28, was accused of biting South Africa lock Franco Mostert and received a citation for the offence, which has since been dismissed by an independent disciplinary committee.
A statement read: "The player denied that he had committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card. Having reviewed all the evidence, the committee deemed that on the balance of probabilities, it could not be satisfied that the player committed an act of foul play.
"On that basis, the committee dismissed the citing and the player is free to play again immediately."
Coach Warren Gatland named Sinckler on the bench for Saturday's series decider at Cape Town Stadium, with each team having won one game thus far.
The England forward has come on as a second-half substitute in both Tests thus far and is hoping to complete a set of three caps.
Sinckler looked as though he could be facing a minimum 12-week ban from the sport if found guilty of biting, although suspensions can run as high as six months.
Fans may well have feared for the worst after Mostert emerged from a ruck clutching his right forearm, having just made contact with the grounded Sinckler.
However, the independent committee could not conclude there was any foul play after it "considered all the available evidence, including multiple broadcast angles, submissions from the player and his representative and expert witness testimony."
Mostert will also play a part in Saturday's third, decisive Test after keeping his place in the South Africa XV, although he's moved to flanker as a replacement for the injured Pieter-Steph du Toit.
Gatland has made more wholesale changes to his own team after swapping six of his starters for the rubber match, though there was still no place in the XV for Sinckler.
This will be the first time that a three-Test Lions series in South Africa will be decided in the final match, with either one of the two teams taking a 2-0 lead in the previous editions.
Sinckler will hope he can again come on to make an impact, though hopefully a more positive one than last Saturday when the Lions conceded 21 points without reply in the second half.
