Manu Tuilagi banned for four weeks following red card for a late tackle on George North.
Thursday 12 March 2020 19:35, UK
England prop Joe Marler has been banned for 10 weeks for grabbing the groin of Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones during their Six Nations match at Twickenham on Saturday.
The England prop grabbed Jones by the genitals during the first half of England's 33-30 home victory in the Six Nations.
Marler was cited after the match alleging that he had infringed Law 9.27 (acts against the spirit of good sportsmanship) when, in the first half of the match, he grabbed, twisted or squeezed the genitals of a Welsh player.
An independent disciplinary committee heard submissions from Marler at a meeting in Dublin and found he had committed foul play that warranted a red card.
The committee reduced a potential 12-week sanction by three weeks to take account of mitigating factors but then added a week because of Marler's most recent disciplinary record.
"Marler is therefore suspended for 10 weeks and, given his playing schedule, is free to resume playing on Monday, 8 June 2020," the RFU said in a statement.
Team mate Manu Tuilagi, who was shown a red card late in the match for a dangerous tackle on George North, will have to serve a four-week suspension.
Tuilagi argued the offence did not warrant a red card but the committee disagreed, banning him for six weeks minus two.
Lock Courtney Lawes, who was cited for a dangerous tackle, was cleared by the committee. Lawes successfully argued his act of foul play, also for a challenge on Jones, was not a red-card offence.
England are level at the top of the Six Nations table with France, but their final game against Italy in Rome has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
