LONDON (AP) England prop Joe Marler will face an independent misconduct hearing for verbally abusing Wales' Samson Lee during their Six Nations match at Twickenham.
Marler had escaped punishment from the Six Nations for calling the Wales prop ''gypsy boy'' during England's 25-21 victory.
But World Rugby said Wednesday that ''the comments amount to misconduct and/or a breach of the code of conduct ... and should have been considered by an independent process.''
Marler apologized to Lee at halftime and was subsequently reprimanded by England head coach Eddie Jones, but the decision not to sanction him caused an outcry.
A Welsh Rugby Union statement said: ''We stand by our belief that there is no place for the use of racist language in sport.''
Verbal abuse carries an entry-point sanction of four weeks.
