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Wed 27 May 2015 | 01:49
Dylan Hartley facing potential ban after alleged headbutt against Saracens

36
Comments

Dylan Hartley will appear before a RFU Disciplinary panel later today, charged with striking an opponent with the head in the Aviva Premiership semi final between Northampton Saints and Saracens. If found guilty, Hartley could jeopardise his position with England.

Defending champions Saints lost 29-24, but the incident took place as flanker Tom Wood drove over to score. As you can see, Hartley was celebrating, then turned around and walked straight into opposition hooker, Jamie George, making contact with his head.

A scuffle ensued and ref Greg Garner asked the TMO to bring it up on the big screen, but he was satisfied that there was nothing in it, so play continued. Hartley was later cited.

Hartley has been suspended five times for various offences ranging from biting to gouging, to insulting a referee. All of that will play against him if found guilty at the hearing.

The hearing will be held at the Coventry Holiday Inn on Wednesday 27th May at 7.15pm.

View highlights from the match

UPDATE: Dylan Hartley has been suspended for four weeks.

Posted By: Grant Constable

36 Comments

  • drg
    7:03 PM 03/06/2015

    Did George actually raise a complaint or did his teams staff? Seems to me when George was 'headbutted', his hands went up in a "wtf was that about referee?" kind of stance...

  • drg
    9:29 AM 31/05/2015

    ...dropped from world cup squad...

  • stroudos
    10:45 AM 29/05/2015

    Oliver - and the other French posters - did you see Huget's stamp on Marais's face the other day?

    As far as I can tell, he's not even been cited - I realise I'm being provocative but don't you think outside France that would have attracted a long ban!?

  • drg
    11:48 PM 28/05/2015

    Sorry to comment again, but I just watched the video and read the description and I'm not sure what the referee and TMO did or didn't see.

    Us 'old schoolers' ya know, the lot that's is probably about 26 upwards, realise that there is really nothing in that.. I mean, it wouldn't have hurt, it wouldn't have caused damage, it was simply some sort of pathetic show of bravado (or something. However some of us are trying to adapt to the new laws, new game etc, and I personally can say that I thought whilst there was indeed nothing in it, that according to the new enforcement it should have been a red. But what was the referee thinking? Is he an old schooler that hasn't adapted...

    I mean DH clearly (by definition), head butted... head butt = red... Once again, all boils down to consistency. I'm happy to see this sort of thing let go, if the player that turns round and clouts the offender, is also not landed in hot water!

  • eddie-g
    8:00 PM 28/05/2015

    Not much to add to your conspiracy theorizing... though I never pictured Lancaster as an evil genius...

    One last thought on this, I reckon Tom Youngs would be the easy first-choice hooker if he was reliable at line-outs. But because he's had accuracy problems, Hartley has stayed very much in the frame as the starting 2. This despite his shocking disciplinary record.

  • eddie-g
    8:00 PM 28/05/2015

    Not much to add to your conspiracy theorizing... though I never pictured Lancaster as an evil genius...

    One last thought on this, I reckon Tom Youngs would be the easy first-choice hooker if he was reliable at line-outs. But because he's had accuracy problems, Hartley has stayed very much in the frame as the starting 2. This despite his shocking disciplinary record.

  • drg
    5:18 PM 28/05/2015

    I don't think the skill Hartley offers can ever outweigh his poor discipline... If Johnny Wilkinson or Dan Carter etc behaved like this, you may be inclined (as a coach) to play a numbers game and work it out, but with the likes of Youngs and other strong contenders nipping at that 2 shirt, I think Hartley is a hindrance and not an asset....

    Sad, but he is the author of his own downfall.

  • drg
    5:15 PM 28/05/2015

    Hahaha!

  • jimmy23
    2:21 PM 28/05/2015

    *throws photocopied paper in the air and leaves the room

  • stroudos
    1:59 PM 28/05/2015

    29. Although you probably didn't mean the question literally - definitely old enough to know better.

    I don't think Lancaster will lose too much sleep over his inevitable decision to drop him. Seems a shame for a relatively minor incident, but with other England-qualified hookers available and some in better form than Hartley, he just doesn't need to accommodate such a high-risk player.

    (See my conspiracy theory post further down the page for how Lancaster has in fact engineered this and the Tuilagi incident in a bizarre plot to facilitate his selection process and enhance his own reputation).

  • eddie-g
    1:45 PM 28/05/2015

    I dunno, Stroudos, he's how old now and he still hasn't quite figured how to channel his aggression?

    Big call for Lancaster around selecting him.

  • guy
    9:48 AM 28/05/2015

    Are you actually also suggesting his home adress is Area 51, Nevada, USA?

  • danknapp
    9:29 AM 28/05/2015

    And was in New York when the George Stowers came down.

  • danknapp
    9:27 AM 28/05/2015

    And was the man on the grassy knoll at the Nick Kennedy assassination.

  • danknapp
    9:26 AM 28/05/2015

    He also faked the Jamie Noon-landings.

  • danknapp
    8:27 AM 28/05/2015

    Yup, he has now spent 54 weeks of his career suspended. What... a... bellend.

    Biting.
    Punching.
    Elbowing.
    Head-butting.
    Swearing at a referee.

    The man is a total liability in high pressure games. Move on, drop him for good.

  • stroudos
    7:18 AM 28/05/2015


    Conspiracy theory:

    Lancaster didn't think Tuilagi was going to firing ion all cylinders in time for the World Cup. He has arguably fashioned a more complete and more competent midfield in Tuilagi's absence, which might be disrupted by his return. He also knew that dropping him might be unpopular with the fans.

    So he paid a taxi driver to create a bit of argy-bargy and goad him into a minor altercation which, with the help of a couple of willing coppers and reporters, could be exaggerated into something seemingly bigger. Dropping Tuilagi then became a no-brainer and had the added bonus of cementing Bomber's reputation as a no-nonsense disciplinarian.

    Hartley has been a pain in the arse for Lancaster and a potential banana-skin vis-a-vis his authoritative schoolmaster persona. He's also not been in tremendous form over the past few months whereas others - Youngs, George, Cowan-double-barrel, Webber et al have been showing promise. Rather than simply dropping him, Bomber sensed an opportunity to further enhance his old rules-enforcer act.

    "Jamie", he said, passing a picture across the table of an England shirt hanging on a hook in the Twickenham dressing room with George written above it. "Get under his skin all game, wind him up, he's bound to retaliate. Then I'll have no choice but to drop him. And you know what that means..." Lancaster paused and took a long sip of his grapefruit juice. "Don't worry if Hartley doesn't really get violent or if the ref doesn't actually punish him in the game. You just focus on getting a rise out of him. I'll sort the rest".

    And there you have it. Two selection headaches eliminated. Lancaster's reputation enhanced. And didn't even need help from the illuminati.

  • 3:53 AM 28/05/2015

    Nice one, it was a bravado fuelled head butt, very high schoolish

  • flanker2712
    1:15 AM 28/05/2015

    The suspension means he would miss England's warm-up games and the first pool game. Lancaster should just get shot of him.

    Great picture in the telegraph article... makes it difficult to argue it was just a bravado-fuelled bump!

    http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03320/dylan-hartley_3320230b.jpg

  • stroudos
    12:03 AM 28/05/2015

    It's four weeks.

    Takes him to 54 weeks in total. Pretty impressive tally, you have to admit.

    Those calling him stupid may like to note that no two offences have been the same, so he is in fact clearly learning his lessons...

    https://twitter.com/skysportsnewshq/status/603680842469236736

  • stroudos
    11:41 PM 27/05/2015

    Ironically (or perhaps counter-intuitively would be a better word), I think when he isn't scrapping his rugby seems to suffer. Maybe some players just need that sense of anger so they have something to channel into their game.

  • ronan
    10:42 PM 27/05/2015

    What a pleb!!!!
    The mans a walking liability....
    Hes ment to be a professional...

  • bunn
    9:51 PM 27/05/2015

    Doesn't look like a deliberate headbutt, more of bravado fueled bumping into. Whichever way, it was stupid....

  • eddie-g
    9:03 PM 27/05/2015

    Oh god yes, I remember now. A touching of heads was ruled a head-butt, that plus the feigned butt got him banned.

    So stupid, really... I mean, players obviously shouldn't do that, but it was hardly violent conduct or whatever they charged him with. Either way, you worry for Hartley, who when he isn't scrapping I think is a pretty decent player.

  • drg
    8:17 PM 27/05/2015

    Pathetic really.. why would you bother?!?!?

    This is another incident to be added to the recent list of 'dominating play turned negative'

    We've had big tackles and head slams,
    Try saving tackles and head slams,
    Huge tackles and abuse,

    Then this, a hugely dominating try, Hooker (hartley) throws a great lineout ball, try is scored and then he somehow has to add something to it.

    Like others have said, liability and he doesn't deserve a spot. Apparently grown up Hartley is not so grown up...

  • drg
    8:12 PM 27/05/2015

    I'm not getting involved in this one......

















    ... ok I am...

    French D2 has a prominent HISTORY of some seriously fistycuff based games...

    Although these days I believe it's cleaned up very very well.








    ...but then French rugby isn't doing so well... coincidence?!?!?

    :P

  • drg
    8:10 PM 27/05/2015

    Depending on how pedantic you want to be, you'll find that 'technically' Etzebeth DID actually headbutt Sharpe... Of course technicalities will fall into what you'd actually class as a headbutt and what was merely a stupid touching of heads...

  • flanker2712
    6:38 PM 27/05/2015

    Bye-bye Hartley! Even without a ban, Lancaster's form on dealing with players' wrongdoings suggests he will just give him the boot. I remember reading all the shite in the media about him having learned his lesson, grown up, blah blah blah... and thinking it would only be a matter of time.

  • oliver
    6:18 PM 27/05/2015

    amazing how even in an incident involving two english players, in the English League, some people still manage to squeeze in some anti-French sentiment. Well done, "Disco"!

  • notawelshdavies
    4:40 PM 27/05/2015

    Looks particularly guilty at around 1:00 into the video.

    Personally, I don't think it's worth a huge ban, but definitely a small one. Seeing Hartley do this is particularly frustrating because these attempts at intimidation add very little to his game: he's no Bakkies Botha, and let's be honest, he's in the team for lineouts and the occasional scrum - England don't require him for much else other than the occasional pick and go

  • disco
    4:39 PM 27/05/2015

    Hartley is a liability with no self control and a terrible example to kids and newcomers to the game. If I were Lancaster, I'd get rid of him now and replace him with a youngster (Cowan-Dickie?) who would be willing to play second fiddle to Tom Youngs without jeopardizing entire results due to such idiotic, violent outbursts.

    Rugby is a tough enough game without morons like Hartley. He's missed the entire point of what it means to be hard as nails. He should go and play in the French Pro D2, they love a bit of that down there.

  • eddie-g
    4:29 PM 27/05/2015

    I agree there's not much there. The footage at 1:14 does not look good, but if you look at about 0:54, the view from above seems to show there isn't contact with the head.

    All that said, I'm old enough to remember when Eben Etzebeth paid a visit to the suits for feigning a head-butt in the direction of (I think) Nathan Sharpe. He got banned for that, and no question Hartley's reputation does not help his case.

  • jimmy23
    4:20 PM 27/05/2015

    If he's guilty then as a Saints fan all I can say is "f*ck this, I'm done" as I throw my photocopied paper into the air and walk out of the room.

  • tphillipsstl
    4:04 PM 27/05/2015

    Just looking at the incident itself, I'd say there's nothing there. But factor in Hartley's history...probably looking at a relatively short ban.

  • danknapp
    3:47 PM 27/05/2015

    Dylan Hartley has, I believe, spent 50 weeks of his career in the top flight on suspension. If he gets a ban here then he will probably have spent over a year of his playing career as a suspended player.

    It looks to me like he's going to get himself a ban. As Eddie says, he has previous and he's not going to get any time off for good behaviour.

  • eddie-g
    3:21 PM 27/05/2015

    He's in huge strife if he's found guilty. 4-weeks is the entry-level ban for head-butts. With Hartley's history, that number can only rise.

    And even if he ends up with a modest ban, one which wouldn't greatly affect his world cup availability, you wonder too if Lancaster would cut him loose anyway. If he can't hold it together in pressure matches, not easy to make a case for including him in the world cup squad.

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