Maverick Marler spits the dummy after ban

England forward Joe Marler is considering quitting rugby again following his ban in the Six Nations.

The controversial prop has not returned to his club Harlequins since receiving a 10-week ban for grabbing Wales captain Alun-Wyn Jones by the genitals.

Marler deactivated his Twitter and Instagram accounts after the incident which prompted a torrent of abuse on social media.

The disciplinary hearing was branded a 'witch-hunt' and Marler is now considering walking away from the sport altogether.

He has not returned to Harlequins despite being contracted to the club for another year.

The 29-year-old had been England's first-choice loosehead during the Six Nations, as Eddie Jones attempted to shore up his team's scrum.

The coronavirus lockdown has allowed Marler to spend more time with his family and has made him question whether he wants to return to the public scrutiny of a professional sportsman.

It is not the first time he has questioned his appetite for the game, having retired from international rugby in 2018, only to reverse his decision before the World Cup. - Daily Mail