A rugby player has been cleared of eye-gouging after an incident that left a member of a Gravesend team blind in one eye.

Clarence Harding of Gravesend RFC was injured during a match against Maidstone RFC in January.

Maidstone player Matt Iles, who lives in Chatham, had been accused of making contact with the eye or eye area but was found not guilty by a Rugby Football Union (RFU) hearing last night.

However the RFU, in a statement, said it may still take action against the Maidstone club.

RFU disciplinary officer Judge Jeff Blackett said: "A serious act of foul play has been committed by a Maidstone player.

"We are unable to determine who that was so we are therefore going to place our findings before the RFU company secretary and legal officer to determine whether Maidstone Rugby Club should be brought to account."