WATCH: Audio of what Joe Marler said to Jake Heenan surfaces

MITRANANDNews

Audio of what Harlequins prop Joe Marler said to Bristol Bears flanker Jake Heenan, which led to his suspension, has surfaced.

Marler has been banned for two weeks, with a further four weeks suspended, after he accepted the charge of conduct prejudicial to rugby for his remarks towards Heenan.

What was said?

During the match coverage, the viewers did not hear Marler’s comments, but they have surfaced on social media.

Twitter user ‘@CaolanSRugby00’ slammed the Quins prop, writing: ‘Dispicable [sic] behaviour and indefensible. He’s 30 something years of age, grow a pair of cajones and grow up’, when sharing the clip.

The clip shows the exchanges between the two packs before a scrum, and Marler can be heard saying to Heenan: “I’m clearly not your brother, am I? There’s no way I’m from the same mother as you. Your mum’s a f***** wh***.”

The extra four-week suspension will be activated should Marler commit a similar offence before the end of next season.

He must also give a presentation to a local club or school, and to a Premiership academy, on the game’s core values.

Before his disciplinary hearing, Marler apologised to Heenan for his comments on social media.

Marler misses Harlequins‘ Premiership clash with Northampton Saints on January 1 as well their home game against Sale Sharks.

‘Wholly inappropriate’

Gareth Graham, who chaired the disciplinary panel, said on Friday: “The player accepted that his conduct was prejudicial to the interests of the game.

“As has been said by previous rugby disciplinary panels, rugby’s core values are not empty words or slogans which can be signed up to and then ignored. They are not to be treated as useful bolt-ons dreamt up by a marketing team. They are integral to the game and are what make the game special.

“The insulting and offensive comments made by the player were wholly inappropriate; such comments should form no part of the modern game.

“This offence was charged as a breach of RFU Rule 5.12 and, as such, the panel was not bound by the sanctions table.

“The panel had regard to the entry points for breaches of Law 9.12 (acts of verbal abuse) and of Law 9.27 (acts contrary to good sportsmanship).

“The panel also had regard to the player’s poor disciplinary record (as an aggravating feature) and to the fact he had accepted the charge and had apologised to the Bristol player (as mitigating factors).”