South Africa back Francois Steyn has been cleared of allegations of biting during Saturday's World Cup Pool A match against Tonga in Lens, tournament organisers said on Tuesday.

Steyn was cited for allegedly biting Tonga wing Joseph Vaka but the complaint was dismissed.

"After hearing the evidence, the JO (judicial officer) accepted the explanation by Steyn that the sequence of events was such that he could not have been involved in the contact that led to the alleged mark on Vaka's hand and accepted the evidence from the Tongan player that it may have happened by accident during the melee," a statement from the organisers said.

South Africa, who have secured a quarter-final place as Pool A winners, face the United States in their final pool game on Sunday.

Reuters