Hartley hit with six month ban

By Ben Blackmore  

Hartley hit with six month ban

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Northampton Saints hooker Dylan Hartley is facing a six-month lay-off from rugby after he was found guilty of dangerous conduct by the Rugby Football Union.

Hartley was cited after Saints' 35-29 Guinness Premiership defeat to Wasps, when he was alleged to have made illegal contact with the eyes of opponents James Haskell and Jonny O'Connor.

An RFU disciplinary panel assembled to produce a verdict on the case on Tuesday, and decided the player was guilty on both counts.

Hartley also faced a third charge for an identical incident involving Joe Worsley, but he was cleared of any wrongdoing in that particular count.

English rugby's governing body is determined to clamp down on one of the ugly sides of the game, and have therefore handed Hartley a 26-week suspension.

That means the hooker will miss Saints' final game of the season against London Irish, where they are chasing a vital victory to rescue themselves from relegation.

The suspension will last until October 17, dashing any hopes the hooker had of featuring on a summer tour to South Africa with the England squad.

Hartley had been tipped to feature in Brian Ashton's 32-man squad, which will be named next week, after a string of combative performances for Saints.

Ironically he picked up the man-of-the-match award for his efforts in the defeat to Wasps, but that match has now proved to be his undoing as he stares at a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Saints are yet to confirm if they will appeal Hartley's ban.