Harlequins prop Joe Marler handed two-week ban

Harlequins prop Joe Marler has been handed a six-week suspension - four of them suspended - following his comments made towards Bristol flanker Jake Heenan.

The incident took place during the first half of the Premiership game between the two teams which caused a big melee between the players with eventually Heenan penalised for a penalty goal.

Even though Marker apologised to Heenan after the game, he was charged by the Rugby Football Union for a breach of Law rule 5.12 that deals with conduct prejudicial to the game.

The disciplinary panel initially handed six-week ban with four weeks suspended until the end of the 2023-24 season.

"Rugby's core values are not empty words or slogans which can be signed up to and then ignored. They are not to be treated as useful bolt-ons dreamt up by a marketing team. They are integral to the game and are what make the game special," said panel chair Gareth Graham.

"The insulting and offensive comments made by the player were wholly inappropriate; such comments should form no part of the modern game."

Marler will now miss Harlequins' Premiership game against Northampton on Sunday along with the encounter against Sale Sharks on 8th January.