Six Nations 2020: Alun Wyn Jones calls for World Rugby action after Joe Marler grabbed his genitalia

Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones says he hopes World Rugby review a first-half incident that saw his genitals grabbed by England's Joe Marler during their Six Nations clash on Sunday (NZ time).

England prop Marler was captured smirking on screen while appearing to squeeze Jones' manhood.

Jones looked to match officials for support, but it went unnoticed on the field, as vision of the incident went viral, with England winning the match 33-30. 

"It's interesting and what would you do in that situation?" said Jones.

"I have won 138 tests for my country, but if I react I get a red card so it's tough. 

"Hopefully World Rugby have a look at it."

"Joe is a good bloke and a lot of things happen on a rugby field," said Jones.

"My question is that it's difficult as a captain these days to speak to a referee about anything.

"I looked at the touch judge and he did not see what happened, which is fine.

"But there is a lot of footage that has been shown and a lot of supporters have seen what has happened.

"It is very frustrating that we talk a lot about TMOs and footage review but there does not seem to be a lot happening.

"I think it needs to be taken in the context of the game. But with regards to the judicial panel that rugby has surrounding each game, as players - removing myself and Joe from this and the game itself - that's what we need to focus on.

"Not the incident or the individual."

World Rugby law 9.27 says "A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship including but not limited to grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals".

The offence has a low-end punishment of 12 weeks to a maximum penalty of 208 weeks.

Ex-Wales and Lions centre Gareth Thomas, who came out as gay in 2009, joked: "It would never have happened in my day and I’m really upset about that - because if it had I would have never retired!"

Wales suffered their first of three straight defeats slump since 2007.

Coach Wayne Pivac was disappointed his side didn't come out on top. 

"We're our own worst enemies at the minute," Pivac said.

"We're working hard behind the scenes to get it right over the 80 minutes, and I think we’re heading in the right direction. 

"We're contributing to the result in terms of too many errors.

"In the second half, there were some good attacking raids with multiple phases when we put England under pressure. 

"If we can do that for longer periods in games, and get our game management a little bit better, we'll be in a pretty good space."