Alun Wyn Jones reacts to fondling incident with Joe Marler

We expected a fiesty encounter at Twickenham between England and Wales but things took an odd turn when England prop Joe Marler was spotted fondling Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones during a first-half scuffle. The footage has since gone viral on social media.

Answering a question on the incident, post-match, the experienced lock called for a review from the sport’s governing body.

“After 138 Tests for my country I know if I react it’s red card,” Jones said. “It’s tough. Hopefully World Rugby have a look at it.

“Joe is a good bloke and lots happens on a rugby field. It’s difficult as captain because you feel you can’t speak to the referee about anything. I looked at the touch judge but he didn’t see what happened, which is fine.

“A lot of footage was shown, a lot of supporters have seen what happened, it’s just very frustrating. We talk a lot about the TMO, footage and review but we don’t see a lot happening.”

Here is the footage of the incident…

The above video clip of the England loosehead handling the Wales captain was shared widely on Twitter, and there were other reactions to the incident on the social media platform.

The match officials did nothing at the time – referee Ben O’Keefe was focussed on defusing the fracas which led to a Wales knock-on being turned to a Wales penalty, with Owen Farrell adjudged to have shoved an opposition player. But Marler has been cited over the incident.

World Rugby regulation 9.27, which covers any incident against the spirit of the game, states that “grabbing, twisting, or squeezing the genitals and/or breasts in the case of females” can be punished by a 12-week ban at the lower end. A mid-range ban is 18 weeks. The maximum punishment is 208 weeks.

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