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Billy Stickland/INPHO

Letter of rugby laws would see Marler hit with a minimum 12-week ban

Alun Wyn Jones bemoaned the lack of action on the incident from officials.

JOE MARLER QUICKLY went viral during the first-half of England’s Six Nations win over Wales, earning acclaim from some, derision from most.

However, Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones was left immensely frustrated as officials took no action when the England prop purposefully grabbed the second row’s genitals.

The England prop will likely face a date with the disciplinary panel next week as World Rugby’s lawbook already has measures in place to ward against such incidents. 

In the foul play section, a provision of Law 9.27  (which covers sportsmanship) includes the line: (A player must not) ‘grab, twist or squeeze the genitals’.

The low-end sanction for such an offence is 12 weeks, mid-range is 18 weeks and the top end entry point is 24 weeks.

That is the same punishment scale as intentional contact with the eye.

“There’s all the footage that’s been shown obviously,” Jones said post-match.

A lot of supporters saw what happened. It’s just very frustrating the fact we talk a lot about TMOs and footage review, there doesn’t seem a lot of that happening.” 

When the issue was initially put to him, the Wales captain said:

 “What would you do in that situation? 138 Tests for my country. If I react, I get a red card. It’s tough, isn’t it? Hopefully, World Rugby have a look at it. Joe’s a good bloke. Lots of things happen on a rugby field. My question is, it’s difficult as a captain these days because you can’t speak to a ref about anything it feels.”

Manu Tuilagi will certainly face a disciplinary panel this week after his late red card, but the guideline sanctions for dangerous tackles like the one he connected with George North’s head on are lower with a two-week entry point at the low end, six weeks in the mid-range and a top end entry point of 10 weeks.

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    Mute Donal Peoples
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    May 30th 2020, 9:59 AM

    I like the way one of the answers is written on the picture tagline :)

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    Mute Monty
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    May 30th 2020, 6:13 PM

    @Donal Peoples: honestly thought it was a trick question and was 99% sure it was him lol

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    Mute my name
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    May 30th 2020, 9:52 AM

    Jim Staples, what a player

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    May 30th 2020, 2:51 PM

    @my name: The only one I got right.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 30th 2020, 9:37 AM

    10/10 here. Good quiz

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    Mute Hugh Dunne
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    May 30th 2020, 10:42 AM

    @Jim Demps: that question 9 tho……

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 30th 2020, 11:15 AM

    @Hugh Dunne: era is always know the ex munster players

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    Mute Kate Colbert
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    Jun 1st 2020, 3:56 AM

    @Hugh Dunne: Can never forget that face rampaging through South Africans in the Irish away kit. One of the most exceptional performances I remember.

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    May 30th 2020, 9:34 AM

    Got the Mason question wrong.

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    Mute Brendan Phelan
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    May 30th 2020, 1:01 PM

    5 out of 10 and proud. Love those quizzes. Keep em comin !

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    Mute Robb Stark
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    May 30th 2020, 10:37 AM

    First 10/10 in a while.

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    Mute Brendan Heery
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    May 30th 2020, 11:44 AM

    @Robb Stark: Sure you did Robb… Sure you did.

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    Mute Larry Betts
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    May 30th 2020, 11:58 AM

    @Robb Stark: All scores should be declared null and void. It’s a disgrace to be having quizzes like that when people are dying.

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    Mute Robb Stark
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    May 30th 2020, 1:51 PM

    @Larry Betts: couldn’t agree more, Larry. Well said.

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    Mute Mark C
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    May 30th 2020, 1:52 PM

    @Larry Betts: go have a lie down.

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    Mute Larry Betts
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    May 30th 2020, 6:49 PM

    @Mark C: ’twas only a dig at someone who says that at every oportunity! ;-)

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    Mute D
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    May 30th 2020, 5:49 PM

    Back when it was about the sport and not posing on Instagram

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    Mute Oran Burns
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    May 30th 2020, 10:43 AM

    5 out of 10 brutal!

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    Mute Kieran Considine
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    May 30th 2020, 3:16 PM

    Going well for once in these quizzes..Simon Mason let me down for the slam

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    Mute JoyMonkey
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    May 30th 2020, 6:16 PM

    8/10 I’m happy to say. Dropped the ball on a couple.

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    Mute Auntie
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    May 30th 2020, 1:45 PM

    7. Not bad.

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