The International Rugby Board will consider introducing more stringent punishments for any player found guilty of eye-gouging in a bid to eradicate the "heinous" offence from the sport.

The IRB have launched an investigation into their disciplinary procedures following a spate of high-profile cases, including Schalk Burger's attack on British and Irish Lions winger Luke Fitzgerald last weekend.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the game's world governing body said: "The IRB are firmly of the view that there is no place in rugby for illegal or foul play and the act of eye-gouging is particularly heinous."

The statement continued: "In light of recent high-profile cases, the IRB is launching a review of the existing disciplinary sanction structure relating to contact with the eye/eye area in order to send out the strongest possible message that such acts will not be tolerated and have no place in a game that has at its core the pillars of fair play, respect and camaraderie.

"The IRB has also written to the chairman of the IRB judicial panel to underscore its concerns regarding all incidents of eye-gouging and a memorandum will be issued to all independent judicial officers reinforcing the IRB's disciplinary policy."