London: Defending Six Nations champions England will be without prop Joe Marler for at least the opening two matches of the tournament after he was banned for six weeks on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old — whose career has been bedevilled by disciplinary issues — was handed the suspension by an independent Rugby Football Union (RFU) disciplinary panel after being sent off at the weekend in his club Harlequins’ 30-29 Premiership defeat by Sale.

Marler will definitely miss the games against Italy on February 4 in Rome and against Wales at Twickenham a week later — the ban ends just four days before their third match against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Agence France-Presse