Monday 28 March 2016 20:09, UK
England prop Joe Marler will face a World Rugby misconduct hearing in London on April 5, the governing body has announced.
Marler, who plays his club rugby for Harlequins, is facing sanctions over a confrontation with Wales prop Samson Lee in which he was seen to call his opponent 'gypsy boy.'
Six Nations disciplinary authorities said his verbal outburst would not lead to any kind of suspension, with Marler apologising soon after England's 25-21 win at Twickenham and Lee accepting the comments were 'banter'.
But World Rugby have since disputed their decision and called for a hearing, saying his remarks "amount to misconduct and/or a breach" of their code of conduct.
That leaves Marler potentially facing a lengthy suspension, with club coach Conor O'Shea adding fuel to the fire on Sunday that his player had been provoked.
"There were a couple of things said to him with words that you can't use," said O'Shea. "But such is life - posh, English and a four-letter word seems to be fine one way and not the other."
World Rugby have confirmed that the hearing committee will comprise chairman Terry Willis of Australia along with France's Jean-Noel Couraud and Alan Hudson from Canada.
