Danny Grewcock will be available for England's grand slam clash with Ireland at Lansdowne Road after he was tonight cleared of alleged foul play by disciplinary chiefs.
The Bath captain has avoided a ban following his hearing before a three-man RFU panel. He was reported by the independent citing commissioner for two offences of striking another player during Bath's 27-10 Zurich Premiership defeat against Northampton 10 days ago.
Grewcock, capped 39 times by England, also faced a complaint of unsporting behaviour, relating to him ripping up Northampton lock Mark Connors' scrum cap following a first-half wrestling match between the players that saw them both sin-binned by referee Roy Maybank.
While Grewcock was found not guilty of both striking charges, the unsporting behaviour complaint was upheld, for which he received a £500 fine. He must also pay £125 costs towards the hearing.
The panel was chaired by Jeff Blackett, with assistance from fellow RFU Council member Paul Murphy and former Wasps player Buster White.
Second-row forward Grewcock will now retain his place among the England substitutes at Lansdowne Road next Sunday.
England head coach Clive Woodward, who announced his starting line-up and bench contingent earlier today, would probably have called up Grewcock's club colleague Steve Borthwick had a change been enforced.
"I'm very pleased with the way the committee handled the hearing this evening," said Grewcock after the hearing.
"I'm now looking forward to the very important games that lie ahead for Bath and Sunday's game between England and Ireland."