Hartley’s 11-game ban puts him out of Lions tour

Hartley has been banned for 11 weeks after he was sent off for verbally abusing referee Wayne Barnes in Northampton’s 37-17 Aviva Premiership final defeat to Leicester.

It is the third significant suspension of Hartley’s chequered career, following a 26-week ban for eye-gouging and an eight-week penalty for biting Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris.

Lancaster, who is looking to select his 2013-14 elite squad in August, will not speak to Hartley until he returns from England’s tour of Argentina.

“Selection for all players is based on three things: form, fitness and the trust that you have that they can operate in the international arena,” Lancaster said after England’s 40-12 win against the Barbarians yesterday.

“He is no different to anyone else and all that will be taken into account for our next selection.

“There’s competition for places with lads like Rob [Webber], [David] Paice and Rob Buchanan who are all going to push.

“I will pick up conversations with all the players who aren’t with us after the tour.

“I am sure he will be hurting deeply, but that’s the way it is: if you transgress, then there’s a price to pay.

“Collectively, what we have always talked about in England since I have been in charge is that if you don’t have a rigorous approach to being disciplined then you hurt yourself and you hurt the team because you concede points and go down to 14 men; that makes it very hard to win international games.

“Collectively we have always enforced that message and that message will be continuously reinforced through this tour and leading into the autumn internationals.

“Decisions will be made about which players you can trust and which you can’t around that time. You have to have players who are disciplined on the field and off it, I have always said that.”

Hartley received the support of his Northampton team-mates after the final and Lancaster was anxious to highlight the positive influence the 27-year-old has been around the England squad.

That was reflected in the backing Hartley received from forwards coach Graham Rowntree, who provided a character reference at the disciplinary hearing into the Ferris incident.

Hartley went on to captain England in the final Test of their 2012 summer series against South Africa.

Lancaster said: “He has been very good with us, his on-field involvements have been great and he has been great off the field in terms of the leadership.

“He has a price to pay now and I am sure he will suffer for it.

“All players have to curb your frustrations and channel it in different ways on the field. That’s what international rugby is about at the highest level.”

The Rugby Football Union yesterday confirmed the suspension rules Hartley out of the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia

Northampton are understood to be waiting until they receive the full written judgment from Judge Jeff Blackett, the RFU’s chief disciplinary officer, before deciding whether or not to appeal.

Hartley was sent off just before half-time in Leicester’s victory and banned after being found guilty of calling referee Barnes a “f****** cheat”.

The Northampton captain had claimed after the game, via Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder, that his comments were aimed at the Leicester hooker Tom Youngs and he pleaded not guilty.

But Hartley’s argument was rejected by the three-man disciplinary panel, chaired by Blackett, who handed down the suspension

“We cannot get around the fact that Wayne Barnes was certain that Mr. Hartley’s comments were directed at him,” Blackett said.

“Wayne Barnes said that if he had had any doubt in his mind, then he would have given the player the benefit of the doubt.

“In terms of sanction, calling a referee a cheat is an attack on his integrity and contrary to the core values of rugby and therefore we have taken a serious view and provided a serious sanction.”

This ban is the most costly of all Hartley has accrued because – a successful appeal aside – it rules him out of the Lions tour.

Capped 47 times for England, Hartley had spoken before the final of wanting to erase the perception that he was travelling to Australia as third-choice hooker behind Youngs and Richard Hibbard.

Two minutes before the red card incident, Barnes had admonished Hartley and warned he would take action if he felt any further comments were directed at him.

When Barnes penalised Northampton’s scrum for the sixth time in the first half, Hartley reacted and became the first player to be sent off in a Premiership final.

Ireland hooker Rory Best was yesterday called into the British and Irish Lions squad after Hartley was banned.

Best, who had been appointed Ireland captain for the summer tour of North America, will link up with the Lions today ahead of their flight to Hong Kong.

The Lions play their first match against the Barbarians next Saturday and tour manager Andy Irvine said: “With uncertainty over the availability of Dylan Hartley to tour, and with the first of 10 matches only days away, we had no option but to call up the additional player.

“Despite the circumstances we should congratulate Rory, who will join the squad (today) and fly with us to Hong Kong.

“A final decision on whether Dylan Hartley will take any part in the tour will depend on the outcome of any potential appeal.”

An incident-packed final saw Leicester captain Toby Flood not last the first half because of concussion, while Northampton assistant coach Dorian West, speaking during a pitchside television interview, accused Leicester boss Richard Cockerill of “intimidating” match officials.

The game ultimately went Tigers’ way as wings Niall Morris and Vereneki Goneva, lock Graham Kitchener and Lions centre Manu Tuilagi scored tries, with Flood booting a penalty and conversion and his replacement George Ford kicking four penalties.

But Northampton, despite being down to 14 men for half the contest, conjured tries as Stephen Myler, Ben Foden and Lee Dickson all collected touchdowns, with Myler adding one conversion.

Leicester deservedly lifted their first Premiership title since 2010.

Barbarians are unable to stretch impressive England

England warmed up for their South American tour with an emphatic 40-12 victory over a lacklustre Barbarians outfit at Twickenham.

Fly-half Freddie Burns scored 20 points, including a first-minute try, and there were also touchdowns for Marland Yarde, Kyle Eastmond, Christian Wade and Billy Twelvetrees. The Barbarians now head to Hong Kong for an appointment with the British and Irish Lions next Saturday.

Late tries from replacement hooker Schalk Brits and full-back Elliot Daly were no consolation for a team outplayed in every department.

England, meanwhile, are braced for Test matches against Argentina in Salta and Buenos Aires, and head coach Stuart Lancaster will feel satisfied with his players’ work, despite relatively weak opposition.

The groundwork was done up front, where prop Dave Wilson, lock Joe Launchbury and No 8 Ben Morgan delivered performances of considerable stature.

That meant an exciting England back division, well marshalled by Burns and full-back Mike Brown, had opportunities to showcase some of the talent that could serve England well at World Cup 2015.

The only disappointment for Lancaster and his coaching staff will be the two tries England conceded, but it was otherwise a comfortable 80 minutes that also looks to have passed injury-free.

England made a blistering start in glorious conditions, scoring from their first attack inside 45 seconds after Barbarians captain Mike Tindall conceded turnover ball. Possession was then moved wide quickly to Yarde, who broke a couple of weak tackles and delivered an inside pass that Burns collected for an all-too-easy opening try.

Burns converted and then kicked two penalties for a 13-0 lead after 12 minutes as the Baa-baas compounded their lack of attacking fluency by making some poor decisions.

The invitational team also encountered considerable problems in the scrums, where England’s front row of Alex Corbisiero, Rob Webber and Wilson made sure their opponents had no platform to play off.

Burns completed his penalty hat-trick in the 25th minute, and although their opponents showed glimpses of attacking potential through centre Casey Laulala’s silky running skills, England trooped off 16 points clear at half-time and in complete control.

They extended that advantage within five minutes of the restart when Yarde surged past Laulala just inside the Barbarians’ half and then turned on the after-burners to claim a superb solo try.

Burns again converted, and with a 23-point lead Lancaster began ringing the changes, sending on Haydn Thomas, Henry Thomas, Kearnan Myall and Billy Vunipola, but it was a fifth substitute – Eastmond – who posted England’s third touchdown.

With gaps opening up all over the pitch, England looked to keep pace and width on the ball, and Wasps flyer Wade capped a memorable week for him by leaving his opposite number Takudzwa Ngwenya floundering.

The newly-crowned Rugby Players’ Association players’ player of the year and young player of the year did not disappoint his many admirers in the crowd by delivering a try they demanded.

Then Twelvetrees followed him over the Barbarians’ line.