JOE MARLER HAS been cited for an alleged strike on Wales prop Rob Evans during England’s Six Nations win at Twickenham on Saturday.
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Last night saw Welsh front row Tomas Francis cited for an alleged gouge on Dan Cole in the same game, while the same official Six Nations announcement included a citing commissioner’s warning for James Haskell after a neck roll.
There was no mention of Marler in last night’s announcement, but today’s Six Nations press release says citing commissioner, John Cole of the IRFU, continued to review footage of England’s win overnight and decided that Marler’s actions were worthy of a citing.
Marler is also currently under investigation for calling Wales prop Samson Lee “gypsy boy” during the game at Twickenham, although there is no official window in which any action must be taken in that regard.
Marler will face a disciplinary hearing later this week to answer the case of alleged striking against Evans. If Marler is suspended, he will miss Saturday’s Six Nations clash with France in Paris, when England could claim a Grand Slam.
“Joe Marler, the England prop forward, has been cited by the independent citing commissioner, 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),” reads the Six Nations statement this morning.
“This citing of Joe Marler follows the citing of Tomas Francis and the Citing Commissioner Warning issued to James Haskell, each from the same match, which were announced yesterday evening following the citing commissioner’s initial review of the match.
“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.”
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