'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAf/2gAIAQEAAAAAlKv/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAF/9oACAECEAAAABf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/9oACAEDEAAAAH//xAAfEAADAAEEAwEAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMRAAQFEwYUIoP/2gAIAQEAAT8AhwVuPp2+irnrdQco4XKkZwSNN4THcMbSpsZzp9qndb5B/PX/xAAaEQABBQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAAEDBBHR/9oACAECAQE/ABuSOO9X/8QAGhEAAAcAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECEhQxkf/aAAgBAwEBPwCYdsTg/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
LONDON (AFP) –
England’s Dylan Hartley passes the ball during a training session at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on March 15, 2013 on the eve of their final 6 Nations international rugby union match against Wales. Northampton captain Hartley will miss the British and Irish Lions’ tour to Australia after being hit with an 11-week ban for verbally abusing a match official.
Northampton captain Dylan Hartley will miss the British and Irish Lions’ tour to Australia after being hit with an 11-week ban for verbally abusing a match official.
England hooker Hartley was sent off for allegedly calling referee Wayne Barnes a “f****** cheat” just before half-time in Leicester’s 37-17 victory against his club in the Premiership final at Twickenham on Saturday.
The 27-year old had his case heard by a Rugby Football Union (RFU) panel headed by Judge Jeff Blackett at the Epsom Downs Holiday Inn on Sunday.
The RFU confirmed their suspension rules Hartley out of the forthcoming Lions tour, although he does have the right of appeal, with Ireland’s Rory Best called up to replace him in Warren Gatland’s squad, which leaves for Australia on Monday.
“We cannot get around the fact that Wayne Barnes was certain that Mr. Hartley’s comments were directed at him,” Judge Blackett said.
“Wayne Barnes said that if he had had any doubt in his mind, then he would have given the player the benefit of the doubt.
“In terms of sanction, calling a referee a cheat is an attack on his integrity and contrary to the core values of rugby and therefore we have taken a serious view and provided a serious sanction.”
Hartley has been the subject of three previous bans. In 2007 he was sidelined for six months for gouging and in 2012 was on the wrong end of suspensions for punching and biting.
Yet he was still supported by Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder after this latest incident.
Mallinder claimed Hartley’s rant was aimed at Leicester hooker Tom Youngs after a scrum had collapsed and the Tigers had been awarded a penalty.
Two minutes before that incident, Barnes had warned Hartley he would take action if the player made any further comments the official felt were directed at him.
“If you talk like that to a player then you wouldn’t expect anything to happen,” Mallinder said. “Clearly, Wayne Barnes believes that Dylan has spoken to him, and that’s why he has given him the red card.
“I’ll support Dylan. He’s my captain and if he said he wasn’t speaking to the referee and was speaking to the player on the floor, then I can only support my skipper in what he says.”
However, the RFU panel took a less lenient view of Hartley’s behaviour and were quick to hand out a suspension that leaves him on the sidelines until September.
“At the hearing he pleaded not guilty but the panel found him guilty and determined that this was mid-range on the scale of seriousness,” the organisation confirmed in a statement.
“The entry point for mid-range is a suspension of twelve weeks and that was reduced by one week to reflect his good conduct at the hearing.
“He is suspended from today (May 26) until July 6 and from August 17 to August 31 and free to play again on September 1.
“In accordance with the Lion tour agreement the six-week tour of Australia represents eight of the eleven weeks suspension because of the tour schedule.”
Hartley has won 47 caps for England and his absence will be a blow to the Lions’ hopes of winning in Australia.
Speaking after Best’s call-up, Lions tour manager Andy Irvine refused to completely rule out Hartley joining the squad at a later date if his appeal is successful.
“With uncertainty over the availability of Dylan Hartley to tour, and with the first of 10 matches only days away we had no option but to call up the additional player,” Irvine said.
“Despite the circumstances we should congratulate Rory, who will join the squad tomorrow and fly with us to Hong Kong.
“A final decision on whether Dylan Hartley will take any part in the tour will depend on the outcome of any potential appeal.”
Best, who had been appointed Ireland captain for the forthcoming tour of north America, will link up with the Lions ahead of their flight to Hong Kong.
The Lions play their first match against the Barbarians next Saturday.
