Ospreys could spend Christmas without Bowe

The star wing faces a disciplinary hearing on Thursday and could now miss the festive Magners League games against the Scarlets, the Blues and Ulster on Boxing Day, January 2 and January 8 respectively.

Bowe will appear before an independent judicial officer in Dublin after being cited for an alleged dangerous tackle during Saturday's European win over Viadana.

"The citing lodged by the citing commissioner for the match is for a dangerous tackle (lifting a player from the ground and either dropping or driving that player's head and/or upper body first into the ground whilst the player's feet are off the ground) on Viadana wing Kaine Robertson in contravention of Law 10.4 (i)," read an ERC statement.

Any suspension would be a big blow for the Ospreys, who are already without back three internationals Lee Byrne, Shane Williams and Barry Davies.

Bowe, who was a key member of Ireland's Grand Slam winning squad earlier this year, has featured in all bar one of the Ospreys' Magners League games so far this season.

He started all three Tests against the Springboks for the British & Irish Lions this summer and has scored tries in four of his last five Magners League outings.