LONDON: Owen Farrell and Joe Marler may receive bans ruling them out of European club finals and England's tour of Australia when they appear before disciplinary hearings in London on Wednesday.
The Six Nations grand slam-winners were both cited on Monday for alleged offences committed while on European duty with their respective club sides last weekend and a statement issued by European Professional Club Rugby on Tuesday confirmed that hearings would be held Wednesday.
England goal-kicker Farrell was alleged to have committed a dangerous tackle on Wasps' scrum-half Dan Robson early in the second half of Saracens' 24-17 European Champions Cup semi-final win over their fellow English club in Reading, southwest of London, on Saturday.
Saracens fly-half Farrell was shown a yellow card by French referee Romain Poite for the head-high challenge and spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin.
But he now faces a hearing after Italian match citing commissioner Stefano Marrama made an official complaint.
If he is found to have contravened World Rugby's sanctions on foul play, Farrell could face anything from a two to 52-week ban, although he is unlikely to be hit with the most severe penalty.
But even a low or 'mid-range' ban of six weeks could rule Farrell out of the May 14 European Champions Cup final against Paris's Racing 92 in Lyon.
Any longer suspension could also have an impact on Farrell's availability for the Australia tour.
Marler, already banned once this season, has now found himself in fresh disciplinary trouble.
The England prop, playing for Harlequins in their 30-6 win over Grenoble in the semi-finals of the second-tier European Challenge Cup on Friday, has been accused of kicking the French club's hooker, Arnaud Heguy, by Scottish citing commissioner Iain Goodall.
In common with Farrell, Marler too now faces missing out on a European final and the Australia tour if suspended.
The 25-year-old front-row was playing for the first time since serving a two-match ban for his "Gypsy boy" slur against Welshman Samson Lee in the Six Nations.
Marler initially escaped censure for his taunts against prop Lee in England's 25-21 Six Nations victory over Wales at Twickenham on March 12.
Global governing body World Rugby later intervened and called a misconduct hearing however, dissatisfied with the leniency of Six Nations and RFU bosses.
Marler admitted the charge and was banned for two matches and fined £20,000 ($29,000, 25,700 euros).
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