Marler hit with two-week ban for foul play

1:12 PM GMT

Harlequins and England prop Joe Marler has been suspended for two weeks for foul play.

Marler was cited following Harlequins' European Challenge Cup semifinal win over Grenoble for kicking Arnaud Heguy.

His case was heard on Wednesday with the disciplinary panel deciding not to take into account his recent two-week suspension for verbal abuse.

The two-week ban means he is free to play in Harlequins' Challenge Cup final against Montpellier on May 13 and it will not impact on England's tour of Australia in June.

"The [disciplinary] committee found that Marler had committed an act of foul play that warranted a red card," a statement from European Professional Club Rugby read. "It determined that the offence was at the low end of World Rugby's sanctions and selected four weeks as the appropriate entry point.

"In deciding to disregard the player's recent suspension as it was of an entirely different nature, the committee then reduced the sanction by two weeks -- 50 per cent of the entry point -- before imposing a suspension of two weeks.

"Marler is free to play on Monday, May 9. Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision."

Wasps prop Simon Macintyre's was also banned for two weeks after he was cited for kicking Saracens' Maro Itoje in Saturday's Champions Cup semifinal.

Macintyre was handed a four-week suspension but this was reduced by 50 per cent "due to McIntyre's timely apology to Itoje, his clean disciplinary record, good character and good conduct at the hearing".

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Marler hit with two-week ban for foul play