JOE MARLER has been hit where it hurts after being slapped with a TEN week ban for grabbing Alun Wyn Jones' testicles.
And his boss Eddie Jones was also walloped with a low-blow on the same day as Twickenham chiefs blasted him for his ref rant after last Saturday's dramatic Six Nations win against Wales.
On a day of shame for English rugby, Marler's season was ended as he admitted foul play, despite arguing that he DID NOT fiddle with Jones' junk.
The 29-year-old insisted that he hadn't "grabbed, twisted or squeezed the genitals of the Welsh player" – despite millions seeing his dirty and ballsy lunge on TV.
He also argued that his crime didn't warrant a red card and on Sunday night he tweeted: “Bollocks. Complete bollocks.”
He has since deleted his social media account and now the Harlequins ace is free to play again on June 8 – two days after the regular Premiership season ends.
And even if games are cancelled because of coronavirus, Marler's time on the sidelines is likely to be halted and then resumed when the season kicks back into action.
If England's tour to Japan is still on, he will be eligible to play in that as they don't fly until the end of June with Tests planned for the first two weeks of July.
Sentencing Marler in Dublin, Six Nations discipline bods said: "The committee found that the act of foul play warranted a low-end entry point (12 weeks’ suspension) and reduced that by three to take account of mitigating factors (including good character and remorse), but increased it by one week to take account his most recent disciplinary record.
"Mr Marler is therefore suspended for 10 weeks and, given his playing schedule, is free to resume playing on Monday, 8 June 2020. He was reminded of his right of appeal."
Red-carded Manu Tuilagi was also banned for his no-arms tackle to the head of George North.
The Leicester Tigers centre also insisted that his clumsy shoulder charge wasn't worthy of being sent off, but that was knocked down and he can play again on April 14.
Lastly lock Courtney Lawes was cleared for a dangerous tackle on Wales skipper Jones, who makes his record-equalling 148th Test appearance against Scotland in Cardiff on Saturday.
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