Marler gets company at disciplinary hearing

Except that he will not be alone on the dock when he appears at a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday.

The Harlequins prop, Marler, and Sale back row forward Thomas Ioane will both face disciplinary panels on Tuesday – for striking offences in Premiership matches at the weekend.

The Rugby Football Union confirmed that the duo have been cited for foul play.

"Joe Marler of Harlequins will appear before a disciplinary panel this week after receiving a red card from referee Matt Carley during [this past] Saturday's Premiership match against Sale Sharks," the RFU said in a statement.

He was sent off for striking with the shoulder and making contact with Ioane, contrary to law 9.12 in the 58th minute.

Marler's hearing will take place in London on Tuesday.

The panel will be chaired by Philip Evans – with Aidan O'Brien and Becky Essex.

Sale loose forward Ioane has been cited by citing commissioner Shaun Gallagher and will appear before a disciplinary panel.

Ioane is charged with striking Marler with the arm, contrary to law 9.12.

The incident occurred in the 53rd minute of the same match.

The hearing will take place via telephone on Tuesday, 9 January .

The panel will be chaired by Philip Evans – with Aidan O'Brien and Becky Essex.

Marler appeared contrite on Twitter when answering a tweet from a fan, writing: "Thanks mate, really appreciate your thoughtful advice. Sorry to have let you down today."

It's the latest incident involving Marler in recent years.

Most recently the prop already missed England's November Test Series, after serving a three-week ban for using an elbow to strike Will Rowlands in a Premiership game against Wasps last October.

The prop receiving a warning for a spat with James Haskell late last year.

Other notable incidents – in a very long list – include Marker being banned for two weeks and fined £20,000 for calling Wales' Samson Lee "Gypsy boy" during a 2016 Six Nations match and less than a month later he received a two-week ban for kicking the Grenoble hooker Arnaud Héguy in the head.