Tuesday 29 March 2016 19:00, UK
Joe Marler has become 'the victim of a witch-hunt,' according to Damian Hopley, the chief executive of The Rugby Players' Association.
Marler faces a World Rugby misconduct hearing on April 5 after verbally abusing Wales forward Samson Lee who he called "gypsy boy" during their Six Nations clash at Twickenham earlier this month.
Although a Six Nations disciplinary panel cleared Marler of directing the jibe at Lee, World Rugby have since stepped in believing there is a case to answer.
The issue has polarised opinion but four days after the incident occurred, the Six Nations panel cleared a remorseful Marler, accepting there were mitigating circumstances and that the insult was "made in the heat of the moment."
Marler was also reprimanded by the English RFU but not sanctioned, leaving Hopley to feel this should have been the end of the matter.
However, World Rugby ordered the case to be heard by an independent judicial committee due to its misgivings over the original investigation conducted by a Six Nations panel which failed to punish Marler despite an admission of guilt.
Marler apologised to Lee during the half-time interval at Twickenham and Hopley says he is being tried twice for the same offence.
The players' chief said: "Now that the World Rugby hearing date has finally been set, three weeks since the matter was concluded by the Six Nations, it is important to place on record how we have watched the events around this ongoing disciplinary process unfold in a state of disbelief.
"As people throughout the game know, Joe is no racist. He made a comment when provoked and is now being hung out to dry in this excruciating media witch hunt whilst World Rugby have intervened against the RFU and the Six Nations.
It is important to place on record how we have watched the events around this ongoing disciplinary process unfold in a state of disbelief.
"To put Joe in this position after he apologised to the opposition player, admitted his error of judgement and also received a severe rebuke from the RFU and the tournament smacks of double jeopardy.
"Everyone recognises there is no place in the game for these provocations but let's be absolutely clear, Joe is not racially motivated and this matter should have been closed when it was originally dealt with three weeks ago.
"We will be watching the ensuing process extremely carefully but the thought of World Rugby calling for yet another hearing and therefore prolonging this episode defies belief.
"The apology was accepted, Joe held his hand up and it is now time to draw a line and move on."
