Two-week bans for Farrell, Marler, McIntyre

Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell, Harlequins prop Joe Marler and Wasps prop Simon McIntyre will all serve two-week bans after being cited for foul play during last weekend's European semi-final action.

Marler has been banned for for kicking Grenoble hooker Arnaud Heguy in the head during his side's European Challenge Cup semi-final.

Farrell and McIntyre clashed during the Champions Cup semi-final but are banned for separate incidents - Farrell for a dangerous tackle on scrum-half Dan Robson and McIntyre for kicking Maro Itoje.

Marler - who was making his comeback from a two-week ban for calling Wales prop Samson Lee a "gypsy boy" - will now be sidelined until 9th May.

A three-man disciplinary committee met in London and heard evidence from Marler on Wednesday and their ruling means Marler will miss Harlequins final two Aviva Premiership league fixtures against London Irish and Exeter Chiefs.

However, he will be free to play in the Challenge Cup final against Montpellier in Lyon on 13th May and available for England's summer tour to Australia.

"A disciplinary committee consisting of Roger Morris (Wales), chairman, Simon Thomas (Wales) and Kathrine Mackie (Scotland) heard evidence and submissions from Marler, who accepted that he had committed an act of foul play but who did not accept that the foul play warranted a red card, and from Richard Smith QC on behalf of Marler," a statement from European Professional Club Rugby (ECPR) confirmed.

"The committee also heard evidence and submissions from the EPCR disciplinary officer, Liam McTiernan.

"In upholding the citing complaint, the committee found that Marler had committed an act of foul play that warranted a red card. It determined that the offence was at the low end of World Rugby's sanctions and selected four weeks as the appropriate entry point.

"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 per cent of the entry point - before imposing a suspension of two weeks.

"Marler is free to play on Monday, May 9. Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision."

Farrell - who contested the charge against him - is also banned until 9th May, meaning he misses Saracens' games against Newcastle and Worcester but like Marler, is available for his side's European final clash with Racing 92 in Lyon on 14th May.

"In upholding the citing complaint, the committee found that Farrell had committed an act of foul play that warranted a red card," EPCR said.

"It determined that the offence was at the low end of World Rugby's sanctions, and selected two weeks as the appropriate entry point.

"The committee added one week to the sanction as a deterrent in line with World Rugby's memoranda regarding dangerous tackles, and then reduced the sanction by one week due to the player's clean disciplinary record, good character and excellent conduct at the hearing, before imposing a suspension of two weeks."

Wasps prop McIntyre has also been banned for two weeks after being cited for kicking Saracens' Itoje.

McIntyre accepted the charge against him and will now miss Wasps final two games of the regular season against Exeter and London Irish.