ENGLAND AND HARLEQUINS prop Joe Marler has been given a two-week suspension for his use of the boot in Harlequins’ Challenge Cup win over Grenoble.

Marler was cited under Law 10.4 (c) for a kick out at Grenoble hooker Arnaud Heguy.
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The disciplinary committee chaired by Wales’ Simon Thomas heard evidence from Marler, who accepted he committed a foul, but did not concede the act warranted a red card.

The citing committee disagreed and imposed a four-week suspension (the low-end grade for the offence), but gave no reason when halving the punishment after deciding to ignore Marler’s disciplinary record this year.

In deciding to disregard the player’s recent suspension as it was of an entirely different nature, the Committee then reduced the sanction by two weeks – 50% of the entry point – before imposing a suspension of two weeks.”

Marler was facing Grenoble having returned from a ban for calling an opponent ‘gypsy boy’ during the Six Nations. Marler is free to play again on 9 May, four days before ‘Quins face Montpellier in the Challenge Cup final.

Wasps prop Simon McIntyre was cited for a similar incident in his club’s Champions Cup semi-final loss to Saracens.

McIntyre admitted that his offence was an act of foul play and that it warranted a red card. The committee took account of McIntyre’s swift apology to Maro Itoje and his clean disciplinary record when reducing his ban from four weeks to two.

Owen Farrell’s disciplinary hearing for an offence in the same game is also due to conclude today.

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