Care: Groin grabs happen all the time
DANNY CARE issued a staunch defence of Harlequins team-mate Joe Marler ahead of today’s disciplinary hearing in Dublin, saying: ‘I’ve lost count of the number of people who have touched my genitals in a game of rugby.’ Marler could be hit with a lengthy ban after he was cited for grabbing Alun-Wyn Jones’s testicles during England’s Six Nations victory over Wales on Saturday. The England prop’s actions have divided opinion, but scrum-half Care suggested Jones would not have made an issue out of the incident had Wales won. ‘Being in the rugby environment and knowing Joe, I don’t see it as a big deal,’ Care said. ‘I’ve lost count of the number of people who have touched my genitals in a game of rugby. It’s been blown up because it’s in an international game and we haven’t seen that many cases like this before. And if Joe Marler’s name is involved, it intensifies because of who he is. ‘If Wales win that game, I don’t think it’s as big an issue as it is. Alun-Wyn Jones’s reaction after the game is probably a disappointed and angry AlunWyn Jones — and that is a way to take out a bit of that anger. ‘You could see there was no malice in it. It’s a joke between two old team-mates. ‘I can understand why people have seen it the wrong way. You don’t want to see kids seeing that. It was in a rugby environment and it happens a lot. I just think that one was very visible to the cameras.’ If Marler is banned, he will miss Harlequins’ Premiership Cup final against Sale on Sunday. Quins coach Paul Gustard also claimed Marler’s actions have been blown out of proportion, after France prop Mohamed Haous was handed only a threeweek ban for punching a Scotland player.