Saints’ Dylan Hartley will miss the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia after Saturday’s sending off
Northampton Saints captain Dylan Hartley will miss the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour to Australia after he was hit with an 11-week ban by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) for foul and abusive language to a match official.
The England hooker was sent off during Saturday afternoon’s 37-17 loss to Leicester in the Premiership final at Twickenham after he swore at match official Wayne Barnes and called him a “cheat”.
The 27-year-old claims he directed the words at Leicester Tigers’ Tom Youngs and not the referee.
Hartley pleaded not guilty to the charge.
A statement issued by the Lions read: “The British and Irish Lions have been informed of the sanction imposed on Dylan Hartley by an RFU disciplinary panel.
“Warren Gatland and his fellow coaches will now consider all their options before making any further announcement.”
In addition to that the RFU, Rugby Union’s governing body also released a statement.
“At the hearing Dylan Hartley pleaded not guilty but the panel found him guilty and determined that this was mid-range on the scale of seriousness.
“The entry point for mid-range is a suspension of 12 weeks and that was reduced by one week to reflect his good conduct at the hearing.”
Hartley had previously been warned by yesterday’s match referee about his language but that warning did not deter the England international, who will now not travel with the rest of the Lions squad when they depart for down under next week.
Saints coach Jim Mallinder said Hartley’s claim had been backed up by a number his team mates.
“I asked Dylan at half-time and I’ve just asked him again ‘what happened? What did you say?’ He said he was talking to Tom Youngs,” said Mallinder.
“If you talk like that to a player I wouldn’t expect anything to happen. Clearly, Wayne Barnes has believed Dylan has spoken to him.
“I support Dylan. He is my captain. If he says he wasn’t speaking to the referee and he was speaking to a player on the floor I can only support what he says.”
Ireland and Ulster hooker Rory Best is now the favourite to receive a late call up to the British and Irish Lions squad in place of Hartley who is banned from the sport until September.
Words: Adam Grice
Photo: Getty Images
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