Northampton flanker Calum Clark has been issued with a 32 week-suspension after an altercation ended with Leicester's Rob Hawkins suffering a broken elbow.
Clark was cited during Northampton's LV= Cup final defeat against Leicester on 18 March, and was subsequently banned indefinitely by his club.
At an RFU hearing, the 22-year-old pleaded guilty to a charge of hyperextending Hawkins' right arm. Hawkins, 28, could be out for up to three months.
Here are some more more memorable outbursts of rugby violence...
Kevin Yates on Simon Fenn, 1998
Yates was given an eight-month ban (reduced to six on appeal) after biting the left earlobe of London Scottish flanker Simon. Yates pleaded his innocence, but was suspended by Bath. His front row colleagues Federico Mendez and Victor Ubogu meanwhile were so angered that their reputations had also been dragged through the mire that they threatened legal action.
The incident came less than a year after Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield's ear
Ironically despite the unrest that unravelled at the Recreation Ground, the club went on to become the first English winners of the Heineken Cup later that same month under current Scotland coach Andy Robinson.
Duncan McRae on Ronan O'Gara, 2001
During the Lions' tour of Australia, their match against New South Wales was dominated by fly-half McRae pummelling opposite number O'Gara.
He was caught landing 11 punches on the Irishman and was banned for seven weeks by an independent committee. O'Gara was left to recover from two nasty gashes below his eye.
Martin Johnson on Robbie Russell
It may look like unclean contact made by Johnson, but his uppercut left Scotland hooker Russell sporting six stitches and a closed eye.
Yet he wasn't sent off.
Manu Tuilagi on Chris Ashton, 2011
Infamous not just for the sheer ferocity of Tuilagi's punch, but for the perpetrator not getting a red card. In fact, Ashton was equally punished as both were sent to the sin bin by referee Wayne Barnes, after advice from his erroneous linesman.
English rugby was heavily criticised for its handling and supposed tolerance of violence. Tuilagi was retrospectively banned for 10 weeks, but had it reduced to five because Ashton pushed him.