Joe Marler avoids sanction for striking Rob Evans

English prop could still face a ban if found guilty of calling the Samson Lee ‘Gypsy boy’

England's Joe Marler will receive no sanction despite admitting striking Wales' Rob Evans in Saturday's match at Twickenham, the Six Nations has announced.

"Joe Marler, the England loose head prop forward, appeared today before an independent Six Nations disciplinary committee in London, having been cited by an independent citing commissioner for allegedly striking an opponent (Law 10.4(a)) in the RBS Six Nations match between England and Wales at Twickenham on Saturday, 12th March 2016," read a statement.

“Mr Marler accepted that he had committed foul play. Accordingly, the disciplinary committee, chaired by Harry McKibbin (Ireland) along with Roddy Dunlop (Scotland) and David Martin (Ireland), having considered all of the evidence, including various video clips, and listened to representations by, and on behalf of, Mr Marler, upheld the citing complaint. However, the disciplinary committee found that the offending would not have warranted a red card and so imposed no sanction.

“Mr Marler is free to resume playing immediately.”

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Marler could still face a four-week ban if he is charged and found guilty of calling the Wales tighthead Samson Lee a "Gypsy boy" on Saturday during the match at Twickenham in a separate citing.

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