Hartley: Cited for Best incident
Related links
Teams
Also see
Northampton and England hooker Dylan Hartley has been cited over an incident during Friday's Heineken Cup defeat by Ulster.
The Saints skipper has been reported by match commissioner Jean-Claude Legendre for striking opposite number and Ulster hooker Rory Best with his arm, European Rugby Cup announced.
No date has yet been set for Hartley's disciplinary hearing.
Hartley has only recently returned to action after suffering an injury that sidelined him from England's autumn Test campaign.
Northampton, meanwhile, are facing a pool stage exit from the Heineken Cup following a 25-6 defeat to Ulster.
The teams meet again in Belfast next Saturday, with Saints needing victory to keep alive their slim quarter-final hopes.
Recommended International Rugby Board sanctions for striking with the fist or arm range from a two-week ban at the low end to a maximum 52 weeks.
"Hartley is alleged to have struck Ulster Rugby forward Rory Best with his arm during the second half of the match at Franklin's Gardens," ERC said in a statement.
"Details of the hearing date and the appointed independent judicial officer will be announced shortly."
Hooker Hartley, 26, has a chequered past in terms of disciplinary issues.
He was banned for 26 weeks in April 2007 after being found guilty of eye-gouging Wasps players James Haskell and Jonny O'Connor.
It was a punishment that dashed his hopes of being part of England's World Cup campaign in France later that year.
And earlier this year, he was banned for eight weeks after being cited for biting Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris during an Six Nations clash at Twickenham.
If Hartley is banned for the Best incident, he could miss forthcoming Aviva Premiership and Heineken Cup games for Northampton.
And it could also jeopardise his chances of reclaiming the England hooking berth that was impressively filled by Leicester's Tom Youngs during the autumn games.
England kick off their Six Nations campaign against Scotland at Twickenham on February 2.
Comments
rockman says...
@bullitt
"accidental contact with the eye area" would not warrant a 26 week ban. There was definite intent
Posted 09:28 11th December 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Leinstergoy: ooh. We will remind you of that. Id say odds on you will be eating your hat. Hartley is just back and will be back on song soon. This is a storm in a tea cup unlike Hores shocking assault. Agree track record does count but its not comparable to shocking AB assault tactics. And I'm not so sure on Hores clean play at club level @isogradord but will take your word for it. @NeilW: no it isn't its the arrogance. When Hartley plays well he's NZ born. When he does this (in his Saints shirt) it's the England player. I'm liking the New Zealand born tag now.
Posted 09:22 11th December 2012
Qkram79 says...
@Bullit: Accidentally making contact with the eye area of two different players in the same game!! Haha He's a scumbalero end of story. @madralgas: is James Haskell
Irish?
Posted 09:19 11th December 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
I think you give him too much credit. We're disliked for waaaaaay more than just that :D
Daft, childish play though. Saints got thumped where it counts, on the score board.
Posted 09:14 11th December 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Don't they mean the New Zealander hooker Hartley. What is it with Kiwi hookers! Mealamu Hore Hartley and that's just the international ones.
Posted 09:03 11th December 2012
neilw90 says...
It is the likes of this moron, as well as a few others, that make England such a disliked rugby team.
Posted 08:46 11th December 2012
madraglas says...
and why has each one of his citings been against an Irish player?
Posted 08:31 11th December 2012
Isograford says...
See, now unlike Andrew Hore...Hartley has a long history of this sort of stuff, but i bet the reaction isn't anywhere near the same from the British Press.
Posted 08:13 11th December 2012
madraglas says...
I have no doubt this is down to his frustration of seeing the starting lions shirt taken from his grasp! With 16 tackles in the game by Best Hartley is now up against it. Very hard for a player to start for the Lions when they are 2ns string for their country.
Given that he has previous the IRB should come down hard on him, that is what would happen in the court of law after all. Come to think of it if he was brought before the courts for these offences he would be in jail by now. Just because it is on the pitch doesn't make it any different.
Posted 08:10 11th December 2012
leinster_goy says...
if this twit gets within an ass's roar of the Lions squad, i'll eat my hat
Posted 08:06 11th December 2012
NHsaints says...
He was getting best to stop holding him back long after the ball had gone...if he'd been trying to hurt him he would have used his elbow or fists, not his forearm... However we all know his disciplinary issues so I'd say he'll probably get a low end punishment, maybe a few weeks.
Posted 08:03 11th December 2012
bullitt says...
The 2007 ban was for "accidental contact with the eye area", not 'gauging'. Sensationalist, BBC style reporting from planet rugby once again.
Posted 08:01 11th December 2012
Centre12 says...
Anyone surprised by this???? How is this guy Captain of the Saints and touted as a possible England captain, Wood was touted as a possible England Captain but I firmly believe you need to be Captaining at club side before doing the honours at Test level. Get Wood wearing the armband for the Saints
Posted 07:30 11th December 2012