LUCKY ESCAPE FOR BAD BOY MARLER
JOE MARLER’S Six nations hopes are still alive after his latest brush with controversy saw him banned for an initial period of just two weeks. The Harlequins and England prop started a fracas during his team’s defeat by Bristol on December 27 when he insulted the mother of Bears forward Jake Heenan. Heenan — whose mother is in hospital — reacted instantly, leading to a mini-brawl between the teams. Marler accepted the charge of conduct prejudicial to rugby brought against him at an RFU disciplinary hearing last night which decided he should be banned for six weeks in total but with four weeks suspended until the end of next season. RFU panel chair Gareth Graham said: ‘The player accepted his conduct was prejudicial to the interests of the game. As has been said by previous rugby disciplinary panels, rugby’s core values are not empty words or slogans which can be signed up to and then ignored. The insulting and offensive comments were wholly inappropriate. Such comments should form no part of the modern game.’ Marler apologised to Heenan online and in person, describing his comments as ‘p*** poor’. Given his poor disciplinary record, it is surprising he has escaped with just an initial fortnight’s suspension. It means he will be part of England’s squad for the 2023 Six nations, starting with the visit on Scotland on February 4, should be selected by new head coach Steve Borthwick. In 2016, Marler, 32, called Wales prop Samson Lee ‘gypsy boy’ and in 2020, was suspended for ten weeks for grabbing Alun Wyn Jones by the testicles. His poor record was taken into account by the RFU who were also aware of Marler’s apology to Heenan and his remorse at his actions.