Marler gets 10-week ban as RFU rap Jones
JOE MARLER last night received a heavy punishment for grabbing Alun-Wyn Jones’s genitals at Twickenham. The 29-year-old prop appeared at a hearing in Dublin yesterday afternoon and admitted committing an act of foul play, although he disputed the assertion that he had ‘grabbed, twisted or squeezed the genitals’ of the Wales skipper. The disciplinary panel concluded that his actions had been worthy of a red card.
His offence was deemed to be at the low end of the scale, triggering a 12-week ban, but the recommended sanction was reduced by three weeks to reflect his remorse and good character at the hearing. Unfortunately for Marler, previous disciplinary issues counted against him and meant a week was added to reach a 10-week verdict. England coach Eddie Jones has dodged a Six Nations ban after his RFU bosses issued an embarrassing reprimand for his comments about referees.
Following Saturday’s Six Nations victory over Wales, Jones branded Ben O’Keeffe’s decision to send off Manu Tuilagi as ‘absolute rubbish’. The Australian faced a fine or suspension but World Rugby swept the issue under the carpet after the RFU rebuke.