CARDIFF, Wales (AP) Joe Marler will be available for England's Six Nations finale against France on Saturday after escaping punishment for striking one Welsh opponent and verbally abusing another last weekend.
Marler faced a disciplinary hearing in London on Wednesday for a first-half incident involving Rob Evans in England's 25-21 Six Nations win at Twickenham.
Marler accepted he had committed foul play. While the citing was upheld, the panel found that it was not a red-card offense and so no punishment was issued.
The England prop was also investigated for using a slur toward another Wales player, Samson Lee, during the first half - and faced a potential four-week ban.
However, Six Nations Rugby said later Wednesday that no disciplinary action would be taken as Marler had apologized to Lee unprompted at halftime, had ''deeply regretted what he had said,'' and had been reprimanded by England coach Eddie Jones.
''Six Nations Rugby have accepted the explanation provided that the comment was one made in the heat of the moment,'' organizers said in a statement.
Lee had also sought to play down the incident.
''I personally believe the comments to have been intended as banter and accepted Joe's apology on Saturday,'' Lee said in a statement Wednesday.
England has already secured the Six Nations title and can clinch the Grand Slam by beating France in Paris.
