Harlequins prop Joe Marler has denied that his comments that saw him banned was verbal abuse.
The evidence showed Marler twice called Bristol Bears flanker Jake Heenan's mum a "whore", with the victim admitting he "lost his head"
Marler has been banned for six weeks – four of them suspended – after accepting a charge regarding comments made to Bristol flanker Jake Heenan.
He will serve a two-week ban but the rest could be imposed for any similar offence before the end of next season.
Marler missed yesterday's Harlequins’ trip to Northampton and will be unavailable for the home match against Sale on 8 January.
The audio of the incident:
Marler apology:
Marler wrote on Twitter: “Yep. You’re right. I’m sorry @HeenanJake – piss poor from me. Owe you a pint/coffee in the new year.”
The England prop will find out today if he is to face a disciplinary committee over the incident.
Joe Marler statement:
Marler told the hearing Heenan had since accepted his apology for over-stepping the mark. He admitted a "mum joke" was one of his go-to lines when "sledging or ribbing" opponents.
The prop added he did not consider his comments "verbal abuse".
He said that this occasion (with Heenan) was a poor, unimaginative attempt to ‘sledge’ another player, part of what Marler said was commonplace winding each other up that goes on.
Marler accepted entirely that his actions were contrary to good sportsmanship but said that he did not think it was abuse, because it was not based on race, sexual orientation, ethnicity or the like.
Telegraph Top 30 male players in the UK:
30 Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Ireland)
29 Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales)
28 Kyle Sinckler (Bristol/England)
27 Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
26 Henry Slade (Exeter/England)
25 Tommy Reffell (Leicester/Wales)
24 Theo McFarland (Saracens/Samoa)
23 Jasper Wiese (Leicester/South Africa)
22 Henry Arundell (London Irish/England)
21 Hamish Watson (Edinburgh/Scotland)
Final whistle celebrations for Scott Steele of Scotland and Hamish Watson of Scotland during the Six Nations Championship, 127th Calcutta Cup match between England and Scotland at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on January 6 2021. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
20 Marcus Smith (Harlequins/England)
They wrote: "A trickier year for Smith after he barely put a foot wrong in 2021 winning the league title with Harlequins. Perhaps a change in the England coaching staff will get him back to his best."
Marcus Smith of England warms up before the Autumn International Series match between England and New Zealand at Twickenham, London on 19 November 2022 (Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK)
19 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter/England)
18 Nick Tompkins (Saracens/Wales)
17 Will Rowlands (Dragons/Wales)
16 Owen Farrell (Saracens/England)
They wrote : "Still a players' favourite and had a better autumn than Smith (not that everyone will listen to that opinion). Been around long enough to have played alongside Steve Borthwick when Saracens won the league in 2011."
Owen Farrell of England takes a penalty kick during the Autumn International Series match between England and New Zealand at Twickenham, London on 19 November 2022 (Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK)
15 Chris Harris (Gloucester/Scotland)
14 Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins/South Africa)
13 Juan Martín González (London Irish/Argentina)
12 Maro Itoje (Saracens/England)
Maro Itoje of Saracens during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final Match between Leicester Tigers and Saracens at Twickenham Stadium on 18 June 2022. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
11 Tom Curry (Sale/England)
10 Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester/Wales)
Louis Rees-Zammit of Gloucester Rugby during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Gloucester Rugby and Saracens at Kingsholm Stadium on June 4 2022 in Gloucester, England. (Photo by Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
9 Ben Earl (Saracens/England)
8 George Ford (Sale/England)
7 Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh/Scotland)
6 Courtney Lawes (Northampton/England)
Courtney Lawes, Captain of England celebrates after winning during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
5 Emiliano Boffelli (Edinburgh/Argentina)
4 Darcy Graham (Edinburgh/Scotland)
3 Julian Montoya (Leicester/Argentina)
2 Ellis Genge (Bristol/England)
Ellis Genge of England (digitally altered) during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
1 Freddie Steward (Leicester/England)
They wrote: "What a find he has proven to be. Scooped up all of the awards going and while he remains rock solid under the high ball – one of the best in the business – is beginning to enhance the other areas of his game as well."
Freddie Steward of England is tackled by Ardie Savea of New Zealand during the Autumn International Series match between England and New Zealand at Twickenham, London on 19 November 2022 (Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK)
