ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Dylan Hartley facing hefty ban after red card for elbowing Matt Smith

BY Grant Constable  ·  Monday Dec 22, 2014

Dylan Hartley will find out on Tuesday if his England career is in doubt following a straight red card he received in Northampton Saints’ 23-19 win over Leicester Tigers this past weekend. Hartley struck Matt Smith with his elbow for his second red card in 18 months.

Hartley elbowed Smith in the face in Saturday’s Aviva Premiership clash, which will lead to a Rugby Football Union (RFU) disciplinary hearing early this week. The outcome of which could mean that Hartley may be out of the Six Nations with a hefty ban.

Missing the Championship would make it tough for him to force his way back into the squad for the Rugby World Cup, hosted in England.

“If you strike someone in the face you are liable to get yourself in trouble,” said Richard Cockerill, Leicester Tigers Director of Rugby.

Television Match Official Sean Davey convinced referee JP Doyle to reconsider, after he had initially ruled that a yellow card was sufficient punishment.

It’s not the first time that Hartley has found himself fall foul of the law. He has a fairly lengthy rap sheet, one that includes eye gouging in 2007, and more recently, a ban for swearing at referee Wayne Barnes in the 2013 Aviva Premiership Final.

While those have nothing to do with this incident, they will play against him come disciplinary hearing time, where past misdemeanors always play a role in determining the severity of the ban.

Northampton achieved a famous victory without Hartley, holding on despite being down to 14 men for a large majority of the match.

“Defensively, we were poor. We were too narrow, and it will be interesting when we have a look on Monday morning that one side with one less back can create opportunities in the wide channels against us. That’s not right,” Cockerill said.

We’ll find out soon what kind of sanction 28-year-old Saints skipper Hartley faces.

UPDATE: Hartley has been suspended for three weeks.

Hartley is banned until January 11, 2015. He can play again on January 12, 2015.

The Northampton Saints hooker pleaded guilty and the case was heard via conference call by Jeremy Summers, sitting as a sole Judicial Officer.

Summers said: “The sanction reflects the low end entry point of the offence, which carries a two-week tariff. The entry point was aggravated having regard to Dylan’s previous record and a week was taken off to reflect mitigating circumstances.

“As such the sanction reflects the player’s record rather than the seriousness of the offence itself.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles

  • 30 WEEKS AGO

    Danny care binned for high tackle on Courtney...

  • 30 WEEKS AGO

    Debate rages on after Maro Itoje sent to...

  • 32 WEEKS AGO

    Fiji Drua player Lomani slapped with ban...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Fans in awe as Joyce finishes ‘impossible’ solo try

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: Outlandish Jacob Stockdale finish is truly world class

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Ulster denied THE GREATEST URC try you will ever see!

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Capuozzo break sets Dupont up for hatrick on return

  • 6 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

    Ireland 'steal' Argentina's opening try as debate rages

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

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

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

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

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

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

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    South African school boy makes the greatest tackle ever

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Fans in awe as Joyce finishes ‘impossible’ solo try

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

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

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible drop goal helps break 25-match losing streak

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

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

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    French scrumhalf drills perfect shot at goal under outrageous circumstances

View All

Funnies

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

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

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

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

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

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

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

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

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

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

View All

Amateur

  • 97 WEEKS AGO

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

  • 98 WEEKS AGO

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

  • 121 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 121 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 121 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 1 DAY AGO

    'Eligible for England' - Fans react to South African star's contract announcement

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    The 19-year-old named the 'future' of English rugby after win against Australia A

  • 1 WEEK AGO

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

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

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

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

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

View All