Joe Marler banned for 10 weeks for incident involving Alun Wyn Jones

England prop Joe Marler will spend a lengthy period on the sidelines after he was handed a 10-week ban for an incident involving Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones in the recently concluded Six Nations game.

Marler was cited after he was alleged to have grabbed the genitals of Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones in the opening half of the game that England went on to win 33-30. The incident was missed by the on-field referee but Jones appealed to World Rugby to look into the incident after the encounter.

The 29-year-old appeared before an independent disciplinary committee which warranted that Marler's action warranted a red card. As a result, the England international was handed a 12-week ban that was reduced by two weeks taking into account the mitigating factors but another week was added due to his ecent disciplinary record.

“The disciplinary committee found that the act of foul play warranted a low-end entry point (12 weeks’ suspension) and reduced that by three weeks to take account of mitigating factors (including good character and remorse) but increased it by one week to take account of his most recent disciplinary record," read a statement from the Rugby Football Union.

“Marler is therefore suspended for 10 weeks and, given his playing schedule, is free to resume playing on Monday, 8 June 2020. He was reminded of his right of appeal.”

Meanwhile, Manu Tuilagi, who was red-carded in the game at Twickenham Stadium for a strike on George North argued that his action did not deserve a send-off but the committee handed him a four week ban (six weeks reduced by two due to mitigating factors) while Courtney Lawes, who was cited for a dangerous tackle has been cleared of the charges.