Dylan Hartley will not play again in 2016, he should miss a good chunk of January and that could just be the start of his troubles.
The England captain lasted just six minutes of Northampton Saints’ heavy Champions Cup defeat.
Hartley connected a swinging arm with Sean O’Brien’s head after the Leinster flanker tried to break the Saints defensive line.
O’Brien collapsed in a heap, needed treatment and did not return after being lead off the pitch to take a Head Injury Assessment.
Jerome Garces was in no doubt about Hartley’s intentions and gave him his marching orders. It was the fourth time in his career that he has been sent off and his latest ban will take him past a whole year in suspensions [his current record is 50 weeks].
Hartley has just led England through 13 consecutive Test wins, which included a Six Nations Grand Slam, in 2016. He is the bookies’ and pundits’ favourite to lead the British & Irish Lions in New Zealand next year.
Naturally, so, everyone only wanted to talk about one thing…
https://twitter.com/ABuachalla/status/807332063368056833
Rory Best after catching a replay of #Hartley pic.twitter.com/3CDeJ6Y2mo
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) December 9, 2016
He eye gouges Johnny O Connor, bites Stephen Ferris, punches Rory Best and Seab O'Brien,..is he related to Cromwell by any chance? #Hartley
— David Gavigan (@JanglesGavigan) December 9, 2016
Hopefully that ends all talk about him being a possible Lions captain.
— Geraldine Lynch (@GeraldineLynch1) December 9, 2016
Hartley proved tonight he is a cowardly thug. How could anyone compare him with @RoryBest2 as a captain or leader?
— David Passmore (@davepeha) December 9, 2016
There is your proof #rorybest lions captain #dylanHartley not fit to captain The Lions #NORvLEI
— Give life, give blood (@KarlCarpo) December 9, 2016
A great result with a bonus point win for Leinster away from home in Europe but tonight's big winner? Rory Best! #NORvLEI #NORvLEN
— Phil O' Meara (@Phil_O_File) December 9, 2016
Hartley literally swinging the lions captaincy towards Rory Best
— Garreth Harvey (@theharv_9) December 9, 2016
Diarmuid Connolly makes his long overdue GAA Hour debut and talks to Colm Parkinson about everything from the black card to his rivalry with Lee Keegan and how he honed the ability to kick accurately with either foot.
