text: Saracens breathed a huge sigh of relief on Tuesday night as Billy Vunipola was cleared of intentionally headbutting Mathew Tait — leaving the No 8 free to face Clermont Auvergne in Saturday’s Champions Cup semi-final. An RFU disciplinary panel dismissed a charge that Vunipola had recklessly led with his head in a incident which left the Leicester full back prone on the ground following a clash last weekend. Saracens are the last remaining English club in the competition and would have appealed against the decision if their in-form England star had been banned. Billy Vunipola trains in the spring sunshine on Tuesday as Saracens prepare for Saturday's clash . The England No 8 had been cited for striking Leicester full back Matehw Tait with his head . ‘As a club we have respect for the disciplinary processes which are in place but at the same time we are surprised,’ said Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall on Tuesday before the verdict. ‘He’s been charged with a strike to the head. It’s got to be intentional but everyone can see that it isn’t. There are enough camera angles to see that Billy’s eyes stay firmly on the ball. ‘If it’s not intentional, the next argument is “was it reckless?” But Billy is decelerating into the contact. ‘He’s in a great driving position and his feet are in contact with the ground. There’s no recklessness involved. It was just an accidental clash of heads.’ Vunipola and his team-mates appear to be having fun in training as he awaited the RFU verdict . Leicester’s Vereniki Goneva received a one-week ban for striking Saracens flanker Kelly Brown in the same game. Meanwhile, Saracens are considering picking exciting 20-year-old forward Maro Itoje in their back row alongside Vunipola. Itoje, who captained England Under 20s’ World Cup winning side last year, signed a new contract on Tuesday and has been touted as a possible bolter for the senior squad at this year’s tournament. ‘It’s exciting,’ Itoje said. ‘I feel like I’ve progressed a lot this season.’ Former England Under 20s captain Maro Itoje has signed a new long-term contract at Saracens .
target: Billy Vunipola was cited for clash of heads with Leicester's Mathew Tait .
  RFU disciplinary panel have deemed the clash was accidental .
  Vunipola free to play in Saturday's Champions Cup quarter-final .
  Saracens lock Maro Itoje has signed a new long-term deal at the club .