ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Dylan Hartley cleared to play after bizarre encounter with Rabah Slimani

BY Grant Constable  ·  Wednesday Oct 25, 2017

Dylan Hartley has been cleared to play following a citing for a ‘reckless act’ that sore his flailing hand connect with the face of Clermont prop Rabah Slimani during a European Champions Cup match on Saturday. Northampton Saints have released a scathing statement on the citing.

Hartley will be free to play in England’s upcoming November Tests after a disciplinary committee ruled that the alleged strike to the nose of Slimani was not worthy of a red card.

Referee Ben Whitehouse, who took a huge amount of criticism for his handling of an incident-littered encounter, showed Hartley a yellow card, ruling that the strike was “reckless but not intentional”.

The disciplinary committee saw it in a similar light, stating the following:

“The disciplinary committee found that Hartley had committed a reckless act of foul play in that he had struck Slimani in the face, however the committee was not satisfied that the offence had warranted a red card,” EPCR said in a statement.

“The citing complaint was therefore dismissed and Hartley is free to play.”

England face Argentina on 11 November, Australia on 18 November and Samoa on 25 November.

‘UNJUSTIFIED’

Northampton Saints have issued the following statement in response to the outcome of the citing.

“The decision to cite Dylan from Saturday’s game against Clermont was unjustified,” said Saints’ director of rugby Jim Mallinder. “This was a run-of-the-mill rugby incident during a high intensity game of European rugby.

“Anyone who watched the game could see that this was completely accidental – a misjudgement at a clear–out, plain and simple. When we should be preparing for a crucial league game against Wasps this Saturday, we have instead been distracted by what we believe was an unwarranted judicial hearing.

“Citings like this do beg the question of whether Dylan is being singled out for what has happened in the past rather than being judged solely on Saturday’s game.”

Despite being captain of England, Hartley has one of the worst disciplinary records of any professional player currently playing the game. His career total sanctions sit around 60 weeks.


Hartley’s record, as of two year’s ago

‘RUGBY IS RUGBY’

This incident, however, seems to have been blown out of proportion. When asked if it should have been a sending off, opposition hooker Benjamin Kayser said:

“Red? No come on. Rugby is rugby. If you start by saying that any hit on the head is a red card then there is going to be 25 red cards a game.

“I think it has to be sanctioned because obviously a penalty is a penalty and if he deserved a yellow it is a yellow. But I think we need to keep on working in a positive and constructive way.

“The last thing that we want is to go out and start playing on the rules and to start saying ‘it was a cheap shot’. We are not football. We are just here to play hard and to keep on going. I don’t think it was a red card, just a yellow.

“It is a game where we are lucky enough where we can actually speak to the refs and can actually have decent relations and exchange with one another. There is nothing better than a ref turning around and maybe ask the opposition captain: ‘do you really think he deserved red?’ Most of the guys would be like ‘listen, it is nothing.’ We are not idiots and we are not cheats.”

After coming back on the field, Hartley received a cheapshot from Slimani, seemingly as some form of retribution for what had happened earlier. He too received his marching orders.

This was also the game that saw Camille Lopez break his leg, and Morgan Parra return to the field after being knocked out. Eventful.

credit: rugbypass/rawrugby

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles

  • 31 WEEKS AGO

    Fiji Drua player Lomani slapped with ban...

  • 41 WEEKS AGO

    The sending off that rocked the Six Nations...

  • 41 WEEKS AGO

    Wrecking ball beats 10 players to score full...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Fans in awe as Joyce finishes ‘impossible’ solo try

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: Outlandish Jacob Stockdale finish is truly world class

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Ulster denied THE GREATEST URC try you will ever see!

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Capuozzo break sets Dupont up for hatrick on return

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Fans praise 'Dom Perignon Rugby' as Irish players prepare for final match of South African tour

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    WATCH: The biggest hit from week one of the Autumn Nations Series

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    'Cheap shot' from Leicester Tigers vs Northampton Saints causing a stir online

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Wild moment leads to all in brawl during Welsh derby between Cardiff and Scarlets

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    South African school boy makes the greatest tackle ever

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Huge guillotine tackle divides fans in viral footage

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Fans in awe as Joyce finishes ‘impossible’ solo try

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Insane moment as french backrow waves off medic and smokes Ange Capuozzo

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible drop goal helps break 25-match losing streak

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Leinster fly half delivers insane 50:22 after being given start for Emerging Ireland

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    French scrumhalf drills perfect shot at goal under outrageous circumstances

View All

Funnies

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    “Put that in the book” - Rieko Ioane’s explosive post reignites feud with Sexton

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Mischievous Marcus Smith spotted engaging in the dark arts during All Blacks match

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Jonny Sexton: 'Fondest memory of the Heineken Cup in 2011?' - 'Gordon D'Arcy's bar' and 'Coppers'

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Watch: Mike Haley's post match interaction with RG Snyman leaves no doubt about where Munster players stand

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    The rugby guy and Mack Hansen drop an all time BANGER with latest video

View All

Amateur

  • 96 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 96 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 119 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 119 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 120 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Anthony Watson exclusive: 'I wouldn't be surprised if England win'

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    It’s a 9.5/10 for Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    “Put that in the book” - Rieko Ioane’s explosive post reignites feud with Sexton

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Should Steve Borthwick have brought on George Ford? Or trusted in Marcus Smith?

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Louis Rees-Zammit opens up about his biggest shock in chasing NFL dream

View All