Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam says the club and flanker Jake Heenan have forgiven Harlequins’ Joe Marler for his outburst in last month’s Premiership clash at The Stoop which had led to the England international earning a suspension.
Marler was sanctioned this week following an incident in the 15-12 win for the Bears. As both teams were setting a scrum, Heenan and a number of teammates reacted to something the Harlequins prop had said. Exactly what it was wasn’t heard by match referee Karl Dickson at the time but microphones later revealed that the 30-year-old made an offensive remark about Heenan’s mother.
At a disciplinary hearing this week, RFU panel chair Gareth Graham said Marler’s comments “should form no part of the modern game," and imposed a six-week ban, four of which are suspended.
