CANCELLED: Sharks’ clash against Saracens called off

It is the latest event to fall victim to the Omicron variant.

“With recent developments regarding the new variant of Covid-19, the uncertainty around international travel that lies ahead and the timeframes in which we are operating in, both teams have made the decision in the best interest of safety for all concerned,” a Saracens statement said.

“Saracens and the Sharks share a commitment to grow the game and make a significant contribution to their respective communities, so will continue to communicate, share knowledge and look for opportunities to reschedule the game and work together in the future.”

Some fans believe he often overdoes the theatricality to the extent that not even the officials will give him a second look.

This all stems back to the South Africa vs Scotland game during the 2015 Rugby World Cup when he flung himself into the ‘Beast’ just to be laughed off by players and fans around him

As the old saying goes, mud sticks., but it’s not a reputation he deserves.

This one still makes me wince. Northampton flanker Clark was found guilty of intentionally hyper-extending and breaking the arm of Leicester hooker Rob Hawkins during the 2012 LV cup final.

The ban was initially for 64 weeks, but was halved due to his guilty plea. He was seen as an all-around bad egg after this despite it being his only ban.

The player at the centre of the 2009 Bloodgate scandal, with a blood injury to his face being faked to allow Harlequins fly-half Nick Evans to return to the field in a Heineken Cup tie against Leinster.

He was initially given a 12 month ban which was later reduced to four months. His reputation was left in tatters.

The Springboks star was handed a two-year ban after he pushed touch judge Peter Rees to the ground while playing for Newport against Swansea at St Helens in May 2003, but 18 months of the punishment was suspended. He was also fined £15,000 over the incident.

It’s fair to say the England prop has a pretty unique disciplinary record, but it all started in 2016 when. he received a two-week ban following the “gypsy boy” saga, involving Wales’ Samson Lee, which erupted out of the Six Nations game at Twickenham.

The same penalty was to follow a couple of months later after he was cited for kicking Grenoble hooker Arnaud Héguy while playing for Harlequins in the European Challenge Cup semi-final.

Marler was then banned for three weeks in October 2017 after striking Wasps and now Wales lock Will Rowlands with an elbow and for six weeks later that same season for a shoulder charge on Sale’s TJ Ioane.

And, of course, just last month he was suspended for ten weeks for grabbing the genitals of Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones in the Six Nations encounter at Twickenham.