Date set for Marler and Tuilagi disciplinary hearings
England pair Joe Marler and Manu Tuilagi will learn their fate later this week after the Six Nations set a date for their disciplinary hearings.
Both players could face lengthy bans following separate incidents during England’s 33-30 defeat of Wales on Saturday.
As expected, Marler has been cited for the bizarre incident which saw him grab the genitals of Wales’ Alun Wyn Jones during the first half at Twickenham.
Speaking after the game, the Wales captain had called for World Rugby to act on the matter.
“If I react, I get a red card. It’s tough, isn’t it?” he said.
“Hopefully World Rugby have a look at it. Joe’s a good bloke, lots of things happen on a rugby field. It’s difficult as a captain these days because you can’t speak to a ref about anything, it feels. There’s a lot of footage that has been shown, it seems like a lot of supporters saw what happened. It’s very frustrating that we talk a lot about TMOs and footage reviews, yet there doesn’t seem to be a lot of it happening.”
Marler took to Twitter on Sunday evening, posting the message: “B*****ks. Complete b******s.”
Earlier on Monday, Marler’s former team-mate Ugo Monye said he feared the prop’s England career may now be over.
Marler’s previous disciplinary issues may lead to him receiving a hefty ban.
In 2016, he was been banned for two matches and fined £20,000 following a disciplinary hearing into a charge of misconduct that was brought by World Rugby after he called the Wales prop Samson Lee “Gypsy boy”.
World Rugby’s punishment for an offence it describes as “testicle grabbing or twisting or squeezing” ranges from a suspension of 12 to 24 weeks or more.
Tuilagi will also face a hearing following the red card he received against Wales.
The centre was dismissed in the 75th minute for a dangerous tackle on George North, and is likely to be banned for a period of around six weeks.
England’s Courtney Lawes has also been cited for a dangerous tackle on Jones, but there is no mention of head coach Eddie Jones.
Speaking after the game, Jones was critical of referee Ben O’Keeffe, but it appears he has escaped any punishment for his remarks.
A Six Nations statement read: “The England No. 1 Joe Marler has been cited for an alleged infringement of Law 9.27 (A Player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship – Hair pulling or grabbing; Spitting at anyone; Grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals (and/or breasts in the case of female players.) during the Guinness Six Nations England v Wales match last Saturday. A disciplinary hearing will take place on Thursday 12.03.2020 in Dublin.
“The England No. 6 Courtney Lawes has been cited for an alleged infringement of Law 9.13 (A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes but is not limited to tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders) during the Guinness Six Nations England v Wales match last Saturday. A disciplinary hearing will take place on Thursday 12.03.2020 in Dublin.
“The England No. 13 Manu Tuilagi was red carded during the England v Wales match last Saturday for an infringement of Law 9.16 (A player must not charge or knock down an opponent carrying the ball without attempting to grasp that player). A disciplinary hearing will take place on Thursday 12.03.2020 in Dublin.”
The citing window for the Guinness Six Nations Scotland v France match, which was Mohamed Haouas red carded for a punch, is still open.
Watch: Eddie Jones to discuss England future with RFU.
Comments on RugbyPass
This article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
1 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
29 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
226 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
226 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
18 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to commentsLess modern South African males predictably triggered.
18 Go to commentsMy heart is with Quins, but the head is convinced Toulouse have too much. Ntamack is back, his timing and wisdom has been missed.
1 Go to commentsWow, what a starting line up for the Sharks) Tasty up front,kremer vs Tshituka or venter …fiery ,,Lavannini ,,will he knobble etzebeth? Biggest game for belleau?
1 Go to commentsIt was rubbish to watch, Blues weren’t even present. Did what they had to do, nothing more. Should be better next week against canes.
1 Go to commentsI’ve just noticed that this match has an all-French refereeing team. Surely a game like this ought to have a neutral ref? Although looking at the BBC preview of the Saints game, Raynal is also down as reffing that - so there may be some confusion about who is reffing what.
1 Go to commentsIf Havili can play anywhere in the back line, why not first 5. #10.
11 Go to commentsThe dressing room had already left for their summer break before they ran out in Dublin that year, and that’s on the coach. Franco Smith has undoubtedly made progress, particularly their maul, developing squad players and increasing squad depth. And against a very tight budget too. That said they were too lightweight last year and got found out against both Toulon and Munster in consecutive games. Better this season so far but they’ve developed something of a slow start habit occasionally, most notably losing at home to Northampton who played them at their own game. Play offs will ultimately show whether there has been tangible progress on last year, or not…!
2 Go to commentsAustralian Rugby has been a disaster, by not incorporating learning from previous successful campaigns. QLD Reds 2011 - Waratahs 2014. Players, coaches and administrators appoint there representatives for scheduled meetings, organisation’s agreement’s assessments and correspondence. This why a unified Rugby Union under one entity works. Every Rugby nation has taken that path. Was most difficult in the Northern hemisphere with over 100 years of club rugby before the game become professional. Took a lot of humility for those unions to eventually work together.
7 Go to comments