Hartley fearing a Six-hit
OWEN FARRELL is set to be England captain after Dylan Hartley’s latest moment of madness.
Hooker Hartley saw red just six minutes after coming off the bench for Northampton after giving Leinster’s Sean O’Brien a forearm smash in Friday’s Champions Cup clash.
Hartley has served more than a year in suspensions in his career and is set for at least eight weeks out.
That would mean no rugby before England’s Six Nations opener against France on February 4.
Farrell is one of three England vice-captains along with Billy Vunipola and fullback Mike Brown, but Vunipola has already been ruled out until March.
And Farrell has taken over as skipper in recent internationals when Hartley has been replaced. Hartley’s red could also scupper his chance of captaining the British & Irish Lions in New Zealand next summer.
England boss Eddie Jones was in the crowd at Franklin’s Gardens and had his head in his hands as his skipper got his marching orders. Warren Gatland, coach of the Lions, would also have taken note.
Gatland picked Hartley for the 2013 tour to Australia, but the hooker missed the trip after being red-carded and banned for abusing ref Wayne Barnes in the Premiership final.
His place was taken by now Ireland captain Rory Best and Gatland has been talking up the Ulsterman as a potential Lions leader this time around.