Suspended: Dylan Hartley
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Northampton Saints hooker Dylan Hartley has been handed a two-week ban for striking Ulster hooker Rory Best in the Round 3 Heineken Cup clash.
The England hooker will be free to play again on December 24.
"Hartley was alleged to have struck Ulster Rugby hooker, Rory Best (No 2), during the second half of the match at Franklin's Gardens in contravention of Law 10.4(a). The complaint was made by Citing Commissioner, Jean-Claude Legendre (France)," said an ERC statement.
"The independent Judicial Officer, Roger Morris (Wales), heard evidence and submissions by video conference from Hartley who pleaded guilty to the offence, and from his legal representative Richard Smith QC. Submissions were also heard from ERC Disciplinary Officer, Roger O'Connor.
"The Judicial Officer upheld the citing and employing the IRB recommended sanctions for Law 10.4(a), determined that the offence was at the low-end entry point of two weeks.
"When considering relevant aggravating factors the Judicial Officer added one week for the player's disciplinary record and then subsequently reduced the suspension by one week for the player's conduct during the hearing and guilty plea."
Comments
rustytrumpet says...
@benny
what are you on about, justice for Hore !
what should have happened is that he shoudl have been sent off in the first place. Then it would have been an altogether different game, the ABs would have had to play 79 minutes with 14 men and that would have been seriously tough.
Posted 12:11 14th December 2012
lardon says...
I would say that Dylan is Englands best hooker, Toms Youngs lineout accuracy is a real issue he really needs to address. But I have issues with Dylans punishment. This guy has a terrible disiplinary record involving all sorts of off the ball infringements. They should just give him top end suspension from now on as he clearly isn't learning his lesson.
Posted 11:27 14th December 2012
APV1 says...
@ Benny - "Justice 4 Hore" Really?
I think you've been tonked around the back of the head by a big burley man a few times too often. It seems to have left you a little short upstairs. Bless.
Posted 10:26 14th December 2012
DaveJ says...
JamieTheProp - For a start, Strauss is a much better hooker than Hartley, throwing and around the park, I would also reckon Best is also better than he is at present.
Posted 10:10 14th December 2012
brendan4155 says...
@JaimieTheProp
Best hooker in the home nations?
He was completed outplayed by Best which could be part of the reason he overreacted.
Hearing was a joke. Should have been slightly longer and I don't think I have heard the "reduce ban for good behavior at the hearing" idea ever before.
Posted 08:42 14th December 2012
TVaddict says...
I said two to three weeks would be about right as it was a low-end offence.
@APV1
Well they have to reward good behaver, but maybe giving him an extra two weeks for his repeat offences would have been fairer for a grand total of a three match ban. Any more than three weeks would have been a joke, though I'm sure the a lot of celtic fans would have preferred a public execution the way they go on.
@Benny
You understand Hore hit someone from behind, unprovoked, and it ended with them going to hospital? If you don't see the difference you are a moron. Move on with your life.
Posted 22:30 13th December 2012
Houston_11 says...
I'm trying to remain to be diplomatic here, but I mentioned on a previous post about Malinder needing to lay off the booze - I think a few of you could as well.
1. I didn't see too much provocation but at the end of the day he shouldn't have retaliated at all.
2. Disciplinary Panel - behaving nicely when you know you're in the wrong isn't a reason to reduce a ban - "Hi, I hit someone on the head, loads of people saw it and there's video evidence, but I'm sorry now." "Okay then, thanks Dylan". Ridiculous.
3. Best hooker in the 6 nations? The amount of alcohol drank when writing that comment must have been massive. He's done nothing this season, doesn't deserve to start in the 6 nations and will not make the Lions tour.
4. Justice 4 Hore!? Are you kidding me? As I mentioned I didn't see much provocation from Best but it looked like a bit of a scuffle that should have ended with handbags - Hartley overreacted at the least. Hore hits a guy unprovoked and from behind - where is the justice for Bradley Davies? Again... lay off the booze when making ridiculous comments.
2 weeks - thought maybe 3. Will still be a great game tomorrow night at Ravenhill - I expect it to be closer than last week.
Posted 21:23 13th December 2012
Benny says...
Lucky he's not a kiwi hooker anymore or he might have gotten 5 weeks. Justice 4 Hore
Posted 20:19 13th December 2012
Greyprop says...
@ Jamie. He sure did some beasting last week at Franklin Gdns. LOL.
Posted 18:42 13th December 2012
Rockman says...
A joke of a ban. Shock horror he behaved at the hearing! He's learnt how to after attending so many. The IRB should step in like they did with Thompson and increase this to what it should be and reflect his scumbag past.
@JamieTheProp.
Best hooker in the 6 nations? He isn't even the best England eligible hooker! Youngs is better and more importantly, knows how to play and stay on the pitch. Garland will not bring Hartley. He needs lions that will be available to play and not a liability.
Posted 18:32 13th December 2012
NHsaints says...
Two weeks sounds about right, he wasn't really in the wrong but he shouldn't have done what he did, end of. It's quite clear now however that he's still not got his temper under control...I think all but his gouging offence now have been aggrovated by silly little things that the opposition have done to wind him up and got away with successfully. I still think the Ferris ban was a joke though, if you stick your hands in someone's mouth you're just asking for them to get bitten...
Posted 17:14 13th December 2012
admack says...
so in other words ... a holiday
Posted 17:10 13th December 2012
JamieTheProp says...
Still the best hooker in the home nations!
Will still start for the Lions
Will still beast all the other hookers in the 6 Nations as part of the best front row in the 6 Nations.
As I've said before - hookers aren't supposed to be nice! What he could do with though is learning when to get his retribution in! He needs to be more sneaky (like all good hookers).
Posted 17:09 13th December 2012
Chubbylugs says...
Cue the 'should have got a life ban for being Dylan Hartley' comments
Posted 16:55 13th December 2012
Jediboy says...
Two weeks is about right. But he needs to be very careful now, with an ever increasing list of offences he will, and should, get larger bans in the future.
It's about time he learned.
Posted 16:54 13th December 2012
munster30 says...
are you kidding me, added one week and then took one week off!!!
what a joke.
"ok so we'll forget how much of a petty little thug you have been and how often you have been cited because you wore a suit and tie and said I'm sorry this time!"
Strap on a pair ERC. Give this clown a proper lengthy ban and tell him the bans will get longer if he keeps appearing at these hearings. Its the only thing he will understand.
Posted 16:43 13th December 2012
APV1 says...
"When considering relevant aggravating factors the Judicial Officer added one week for the player's disciplinary record and then subsequently reduced the suspension by one week for the player's conduct during the hearing and guilty plea."
Add a week for poor conduct in the past and then remove a week for good conduct now? Yep. That makes perfect sense.
Citing and Disciplinary Panel daftness aside, 2 weeks feels about right. He was provoked, but shouldn't have reacted like that.
Posted 16:42 13th December 2012