Joe Marler has been banned for two matches and fined £20,000 for his “gypsy boy” remarks aimed at Samson Lee.
The saga that has dragged on since March 12 and the England-Wales match in round four of the Six Nations, was finally settled by World Rugby late last night.
A three-man independent judicial committee suspended England prop Marler following a hearing in London. He was also fined £20,000 – to be paid to a suitable equality charity – after a misconduct charge against him was upheld.
The decision came after the Six Nations had decided not to take any action against him and the RFU had also claimed a verbal reprimand from them had been sufficient.
That prompted intense public debate of the issue and led to the game’s governing body World Rugby stepping in to re-examine the case.
Marler apologised to Wales prop Lee at half-time in the match and took to Twitter on Monday night to apologise to “anyone who was offended”, adding that he would accept the World Rugby ruling.
He is now banned until April 18, and will miss Quins’ European Challenge Cup quarter-final against London Irish on Saturday, plus a Premiership appointment with league leaders Saracens at Wembley seven days later.
Marler initially avoided a suspension after Six Nations chiefs judged his remorse, apology at half-time and subsequent admonishing by England as sufficient punishment.
In a statement issued following what was thought to be a six-hour hearing on Tuesday, World Rugby said: “Joe Marler has been suspended for two matches and fined £20,000 to be paid to a suitable equality charity in the UK after an independent judicial committee upheld a misconduct charge against the player.
“The charge was admitted in its entirety by Marler and upheld by the independent judicial panel comprising Terry Willis (chair, Australia), Jean-Noel Couraud (France) and Alan Hudson (Canada).”
The statement continued: “Following a full review of all the evidence, including a detailed analysis of the broadcast feed, referee microphone, statements and submissions on behalf of Marler by his representative Mark
Milliken-Smith QC, and World Rugby, the committee found:
“That Marler had used unsporting and discriminatory language towards Lee.
“That by his actions, Marler had breached World Rugby Regulation 20 and the code of conduct and brought the game into disrepute.
“That Marler was proactive in apologising to Lee at half-time during the match, and that he subsequently issued a public and unreserved apology for his comments.
“That Marler is a person of good character and had no similar misconduct charges.”
Although he admitted the charge, Marler does have a right of appeal within seven days of notification of the full written decision.
Attention will now turn to the Six Nations which will be expected to tighten up its disciplinary procedures after World Rugby noted: “We exercised the right to take appropriate action before an independent judicial committee in the absence of such a process by Six Nations Rugby in accordance with the regulations.”
The RFU said on Tuesday night that the independent committee’s decision would not be appealed. “We acknowledge the outcome of today’s hearing,” an RFU spokesman said. “The decision will not be appealed and we now consider the matter closed.”