England front-rower Joe Marler will miss next month’s clash with Australia after being suspended for two matches but capatin Dylan Hartley has been cleared to play.
An independent disciplinary panel decided Hartley, who pleaded not guilty, should receive no further sanction after being sent to the sin-bin for striking Clermont prop Rabah Slimani during Northampton’s 24-7 Champions Cup defeat on Saturday.
But England coach Eddie Jones will be without Marler for next month’s matches against Argentina and the Wallabies after the front-rower pleaded guilty to striking Wasps’ Will Rowlands during Harlequins’ Champions Cup defeat in Coventry.
“It was found Hartley had committed a reckless act of foul play in that he had struck Slimani in the face. However, the committee was not satisfied that the offence had warranted a red card,” read a statement issued by tournament organisers European Professional Club Rugby.
The entry-point sanction for striking with the hand is a two-week ban, rising to eight weeks and above according to severity.
Although the offence was deemed minor, Hartley’s dismal disciplinary record that has robbed him of 60 weeks of his career threatened to increase any sanction given and prevent him from captaining England next month.
Argentina, Australia and Samoa visit Twickenham on successive weekends and while the Northampton hooker is under pressure from Jamie George for his place in the front row, he is set to be retained in the role he has performed throughout Eddie Jones’ reign.
Marler will miss both the Argentina and Australia matches after being suspended for three weeks, but will be available for the final match of the series against Samoa.
He pleaded guilty to striking Rowlands with his forearm, which earned him a red card on Saturday.
“The committee upheld the citing complaint and determined that the offence had warranted a red card, but decided after consideration that the strike by the player was with the arm rather than the elbow,” EPRC said.
“In deciding that Marler is suspended until midnight on Sunday, November 19, the Committee took into account the player’s likely playing commitments in the coming weeks. Both Marler and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.”
adastra32
Guest
Oh no he's not (banned)!!! The pantomime season has come early: Marler can play vs. Aus. The whole player disciplinary system is a farce.
Jake
Guest
Advantage Australia.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Going to be a tough match for the Wallabies. We do have the advantage however, of having played together for the last 3 months, whereas England will only have a short period of time together.
Ben
Guest
I just heard on the news just now that they successfully argued Marlers ban down by a week and is now available for the Aus match.
Cuw
Guest
England squad Backs Full-backs: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby) Inside backs: Danny Care (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Piers Francis (Northampton Saints), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Marcus Smith (Harlequins) *, Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers) Forwards Back five: Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby) *, Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby) Front row: Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Matt Mullan (Wasps), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs) *Apprentice players Players unavailable due to injury or suspension Jack Clifford (Harlequins), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
cuw
Guest
Nathan Hughes also banned for 2 weeks. His hand off to the neck ( with open palm) deemed striking :)
cuw
Guest
" He pleaded guilty to striking Rowlands with his forearm, which earned him a red card on Saturday. " NO - he only got a yellow card. he came back to play. not sure what happened but at half time he got really angry at someone. the ref had to hold him back going after someone in the Wasps team. Hartley was unlucky . the above writing gives the impression he deliberately struck someone - which is not the case. he tackled someone at the ruck , and in trying to bring the arms around struck Slimani who was on the ground at the ruck. that was totally accidental , but the ref gave him a yellow becoz he struck Slimani's face. in fact the first referral was for taking someone out at the ruck off the ball , then the face thing came up :)
DLKN
Guest
Marler's absence probably improves England's scrum. He's their Al Baxter.
John R
Roar Guru
This guy is always getting himself into strife isn't he.