Joe Marler has been hit with an immediate two-week ban for insulting Bristol forward Jake Heenan's hospital-bound mother.
Harlequins prop Marler had been charged by the RFU for 'prejudicial conduct' following his role in a verbal altercation that sparked a mini brawl in Tuesday's Premiership clash.
And the 32-year-old accepted the charge as he was handed his punishment at a disciplinary hearing on Friday.
Marler broke the RFU rule 5.12 for prejudicial conduct and was sanctioned with a total ban of six weeks, but a four-week suspension has been placed on the punishment, which will be enforced if he commits a similar offence. That has allowed him a chance to still figure in the Six Nations for England should he be named in Steve Borthwick's first England squad, which is pencilled in for January 16.
Gareth Graham, who chaired the disciplinary panel at Friday's hearing, said: "The player accepted that his conduct was prejudicial to the interests of the game."
He added: "The insulting and offensive comments made by the player were wholly inappropriate; such comments should form no part of the modern game."
Marler had clearly incensed Bristol flanker Heenan with comments made at the Stoop, causing a fracas at a scrum during the first half of the match. And it was claimed after the match that Marler made two separate comments relating to the mother of Heenan.
He later apologised on social media for his actions, tweeting the Bristol flanker: "I’m sorry @HeenanJake – p*** poor from me. Owe you a pint/coffee in the New Year.”
But Marler has not escaped another suspension after his inflammatory comments towards Heenan in his latest brush with rugby authorities.
The statement issued by the RFU continued: "In all circumstances of the case, the panel concluded that a total ban of six weeks was proportionate but that it was appropriate to suspend part of that sanction.
"The panel found that an immediate ban of two weeks should be imposed and the remaining four-week ban should be suspended until the ed of the 2023/24 season (and may be activated should the player commit a similar offence."
Marler was banned for two matches and fined £20,000 for calling Wales prop Samson Lee 'gypsy boy' in a Six Nations clash at Twickenham in 2016.
And in 2020, the provocative player's disciplinary record worsened as he was hit with a 10-week ban for grabbing the genitals of Wales legend Alun Wyn Jones during a match.
