Joe
Marler will be available for England's second autumn international
against Australia, after the decision to spread his three-week ban over a
four-week period was reversed.
Prop Marler was suspended for
striking on Wednesday, and a European Professional Club Rugby
disciplinary committee originally judged that because of the player's
"likely playing commitments" the ban would not include Harlequins'
Anglo-Welsh Cup clash with Saracens on 5 November.Marler was therefore ruled out of matches against Argentina and Australia and not selected in head coach Eddie Jones' squad.
But Harlequins successfully queried the verdict with the European Cup authorities and his suspension will now end on 12 November.
Marler will be free to face the Wallabies on 18 November, if selected.
England head coach Jones confirmed on Thursday he has the flexibility to draft players into his squad at any point throughout the campaign.
Jones' side play Argentina on 11 November, Australia on 18 November and Samoa on 25 November.
The original decision not to include the Anglo-Welsh game as part of Marler's ban was met with confusion, especially as the opposite applied to Wasps number eight Nathan Hughes.
Hughes' two-week ban for a dangerous tackle included the weekend of 4-5 November, and therefore he is available for all three of England's autumn Tests.
When Marler was left out of the England squad, Harlequins director of rugby John Kingston submitted further information to the independent disciplinary committee.
He informed them that Marler would be selected for the club's Anglo-Welsh Cup matches on 5 November and 12 November and the committee was satisfied that the weekend of 4-5 November should be included within the period of suspension.
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