Wales have backed World Rugby to sort out Joe Marler as the England prop faces double trouble after the clash at Twickenham.
Backs coach Rob Howley says he is confident the game’s governing body will take the right action over the verbal issue directed towards Wales’ Samson Lee.
Marler – who has already been cited for striking Rob Evans – faces a second investigation for calling Lee “gypsy boy” during his team’s 25-21 Six Nations victory.
The referee’s microphone picked up the comment during live coverage. Verbal abuse of a player based on religion, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation or otherwise carries a minimum sanction of a four-week suspension.
The Rugby Football Union released a statement on Sunday revealing that Marler apologised to Lee at half-time and was “reminded by [head coach] Eddie Jones of his responsibilities as an England player after the game”.
It appeared to be an attempt by England to take control of the fall-out, as was Jones’ comments today that the apology showed how seriously Marler took his mistake.
“It’s time to move on,” said Jones, but the timeline is not England’s to control and neither is any investigation. That remains with the citing officer who had 48 hours after the final whistle to lodge a complaint.
Howley – whose own side are in hot water after Tomas Francis was cited for allegedly making contact with the eyes or eye area of Dan Cole’s face – insists Wales have faith in the process and claimed it was the first time he had encountered that kind of on-field abuse.
The former Wales captain said: “As players and coaches, there is banter in the game but there is no place for that. I think Samson is the best person you can ask. I think he had a fairly different take on it.
“But, as far as we are concerned, there is no room in the game for that. We all love the game of rugby and the one thing about rugby is that, after the game, players get on with players.
“We’ll just wait for that process to finish. It’s the first time, in my experience of being involved with international rugby, that this has happened.
“I’m sure World Rugby will decide, effectively, what to do and we’ll support them in whatever that decision is.”
©Huw Evans Picture Agency
In the meantime, Marler has been cited for “allegedly striking an opponent in the 15th minute of the first half of the RBS 6 Nations match between England and Wales at Twickenham on Saturday 12 March 2016. Law 10.4 (a) applies – Punching or Striking. A player must not strike an opponent with the fist or arm, including the elbow, shoulder, head or knee(s).”
In an eventful first half for Marler, the Harlequins loosehead appeared to land a forearm in the face of Evans while trying to help his team-mate Dan Cole ground the ball over the Welsh try-line.
The offence carries an entry-point sanction of two weeks and he will appear before a Six Nations disciplinary hearing this week with the outcome almost certain to rule him out of the Saturday’s match against France.
A Six Nations statement read: “The citing commissioner continued his review of the match overnight and considered that the incident in the 15th minute involving Mr Marler should also be the subject of a citing [the relevant disciplinary rules provide that the deadline for citing complaints is ordinarily 48 hours after the end of the match in question].
“A disciplinary hearing for the player will be held later this week, before an independent Six Nations disciplinary committee of three.”
