England And Harlequins Prop Joe Marler Handed Six-Week Suspension
England And Harlequins Prop Joe Marler Handed Six-Week Suspension
Harlequins prop Joe Marler was handed six-week suspension for comments made to Bristol Bear's Jake Heenan about the backrow's hospital-bound mother.
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England and Harlequins prop Joe Marler has been banned for six weeks, four of which are suspended, following a verbal altercation with Bristol back row Jake Heenan.
The incident in question took place during Bristol’s 15-12 win over Harlequins on Tuesday during their Premiership match at the Twickenham Stoop.
Marler was cited for ‘conduct prejudicial to the game’ and will serve a two-week ban, with the remaining four weeks coming into effect should he be found guilty of a similar offence next season.
As a renowned advocate for mental health, Marler immediately took to Twitter to apologize to Heenan, having reportedly made a remark about the backrow’s hospital-bound mother.
Very curious to see if we get to hear what Joe Marler is supposed to have said that kicked this off tonight in #HARvBRI. Jake Heenan clearly furious at something. pic.twitter.com/MlReW4drO4
— James Stafford 🇺🇦 (@jpstafford) December 27, 2022
In addition to the suspension, Marler has been ordered to give a presentation to a local club or school, and to a Premiership academy, on the core values of the game.
Speaking after the suspension was handed down, Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel chair Gareth Graham shared some thoughts.
"The player accepted that his conduct was prejudicial to the interests of the game," Graham said. "Rugby's core values are not empty words or slogans that can be signed up to and then ignored. They are integral to the game.
"The insulting and offensive comments made by the player were wholly inappropriate; such comments should form no part of the modern game."
Immediately following the incident, Bristol’s Director of Rugby Pat Lam said, “I brought Jake over from New Zealand to Connacht and to Bristol. He’s like a son to our family, and I have never seen him like that.
“It’s best to say one of the areas we are all trying to work on is the spirit of the game. I love Joe Marler, but something was said, and there was a reaction from Jake I have never seen before.
“We are all custodians of the game – players, coaches – and one thing we all value, and we all work hard to keep, is the right values and spirit. Jake reacted to something that was said. That’s all I know what happened.”
In addition to Lam’s defense of Heenan, Bristol captain Steven Luatua took to Twitter to call out Marler’s actions, which ultimately led to the Marler apology.
I only found out on the way home. You & I would’ve done the same. That was absolute bullsh%t from Marler
— Steven Luatua (@StevenLuatua) December 27, 2022
Yep. You’re right. I’m sorry @HeenanJake - piss poor from me. Owe you a pint/coffee in the new year.
— Joe Marler (@JoeMarler) December 28, 2022
Marler’s latest suspension joins his 2016 two-week ban and £20,000 fine for his offensive language toward Welsh Prop Samson Lee and his 10-week penalty for grabbing Welsh secondrow Alun Wyn Jones’ genitals.
Marler discussed both incident’s in his autobiography "Loose Head’" and previously has spoken about his battle with anxiety, which at times has led to him seeking a suspension as respite.
Speaking on the popular Rugby Pod in 2018, Marler said, “The anxiety I would get about having to leave and go away again would manifest itself in giving away more dull penalties and looking for outs, looking for a yellow card, looking for a red card, because if I could pick up a ban, that’s an easy way out, without actually pulling the trigger.
“I played like an absolute helmet, which often happened around England time.
“That mindset manifested itself. After that game, I said, ‘I can’t keep doing this. It’s not fair on my family. It’s not fair on the club.”
With this latest incident and disciplinary hearing now concluded, the 32-year-old will miss Harlequins upcoming clashes with the Northampton Saints, and crucially, a match with the Sale Sharks, who sit one position above the Londoners on the table.
Written by Philip Bendon