Dylan’s friend in high places
DYLAN HARTLEY will walk into another disciplinary hearing today with the backing of the RFU top brass.
Hartley is one of three England players – Harlequins’ Joe Marler and Wasps No 8 Nathan Hughes are the others – appearing after last weekend’s Champions Cup action.
Hooker Hartley was sinbinned for striking prop Rabah Slimani in Northampton’s 24-7 defeat by Clermont in France.
Front-rower Marler was carded for elbowing Wasps lock Will Rowlands.
Hughes has been hauled up for a dangerous tackle on fly-half Marcus Smith. Hartley has been slapped with bans totalling more than a year since 2007 but has been England skipper since January 2016.
RFU chief executive Steve Brown said: “Dylan has been a superb captain for England.
“The players have a responsibility as role models. The way citings work and the consequences work are a positive because the outcomes are public.”
Eddie Jones is set to name his squad for the autumn internationals tomorrow and will be sweating on the outcomes.
Hughes is the stand-out No8 with Billy Vunipola injured, Hartley is Jones’ right-hand man and Marler toured with the Lions in the summer.
Jones is to leave the head coach’s job after the 2019 World Cup and Brown wants his successor appointed well before that.
“We don’t want it to be a distraction going into 2019,” said Brown. “We want to know what we’re doing when we come out the other end.
“We’re already scanning the horizon, considering all the options.
“Eddie wants to leave a legacy here and a system that works for the next head coach.”