Dylan Hartley handed six-week ban: England captain will NOT miss Six Nations
DYLAN HARTLEY has been banned for six weeks but will return in time for the start of England's Six Nations campaign.
Dylan Hartley Red Card - Leinster 37-10 Northampton 2016
Hartley was sent off during Northampton Saints' 37-10 defeat to Leinster in the European Rugby Champions Cup.
The England captain, who was took over the post from Chris Robshaw after the disastrous 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign, had been on the field less than six minutes having been introduced as a second-half replacement.
Dylan Hartley was sent off during Northampton Saints' clash with Leinster
Dylan Hartley led England to an unbeaten 2016
But the hooker was adjudged to have caught Sean O'Brien with a swinging arm and received a straight red card from referee Jerome Garces.
Appearing before an independent disciplinary hearing today, Hartley plead guilty and had a week wiped off his sentence, although he also had two added for his previous record.
Dylan Hartley swings an arm at Sean O'Brien
Dylan Hartley made contact with the head, a straight red card offence
The six-week ban will leave him free to play from January 23, which will come a relief to England captain Eddie Jones - their first game of the 2017 Six Nations sees them face France at Twickenham on February 4.
The 30-year-old has one of the poorest disciplinary records around and his latest misdemeanour takes him up to a total of 60 weeks of bans.