England captain facing massive ban over cheap high shot
Serial offender Dylan Hartley will learn this week if he’s available to lead England into their Six Nations rugby campaign, after being sent off for the third time in his career.
The Northampton Saints hooker faces the prospect of a lengthy ban, following his red card for a late high tackle on Sean O’Brien during the Champions Cup defeat by Leinster last week.
Hartley came on as a second half replacement and had only been on the pitch for six minutes when he collected the Leinster man across the jaw with a swinging arm.
The tackle has drawn widespread condemnation from the rugby community and left England coach Eddie Jones with a dilemma to solve about his captain.
The former Wallabies mentor appointed Hartley as the country’s skipper, despite his chequered disciplinary record which includes headbutting, biting, gouging and swearing at a referee.
Hartley will appear before an independent hearing in England on Wednesday to learn the extent of his punishment.
The England skipper could either face a striking or a dangerous tackle charge, but will almost certainly be sidelined for a substantial period of time because of his track record.
A ban of eight weeks or more would rule Hartley out of England’s Six Nations Opener against France at Twickenham on February 4, putting Owen Farrell in line to replace him as captain.