Rugby:England hooker Dylan Hartley has been banned for two months after being found guilty of biting the finger of Ireland's Stephen Ferris at a disciplinary hearing in London today. The 26-year-old could have been hit with a maximum ban of four years after being found guilty.
However, a Six Nations Disciplinary Committee deemed the offence to be at the lower end of the scale and also took mitigation into account when handing down an eight-week punishment.
“The Disciplinary Committee considered the available evidence before them and listened to the player, his legal representative, as well as Jim Mallinder (Director of Rugby, Northampton) and Graham Rowntree (Forwards Coach, England),” the Six Nations explained in a statement.
“The Disciplinary Committee also listened to the evidence of Stephen Ferris by video link. The Disciplinary Committee, in upholding the citing for foul play, decided that the offence merited a low entry point in the IRB’s table of sanctions and allowed mitigation of four weeks.”
Hartley, who has the right of appeal, will miss the remainder of the English Premiership season but will be available for England’s summer tour.
Biting carries a low-end entry point of a 12-week suspension, while the mid-range punishment is 18 weeks and there is a ban of 24-plus weeks at the top end. The maximum sanction is a four-year punishment. It had been speculated that Hartley could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines having served a 26-week ban for gouging in 2007.
On that occasion he was punished for making contact with the eye areas of Wasps duo Jonny O’Connor and James Haskell during a Premiership fixture. However, it is understood that given the length of time that has passed since the gouging incidents, it was felt the four-week reduction was appropriate.
The incident with Ferris occurred during the 28th minute of England’s comfortable win at Twickenham, which saw them secure second place in the Six Nations table after an encouraging campaign under interim coach Stuart Lancaster.
Television footage did not capture the bite, but Ferris and some of his team-mates complained to Welsh referee Nigel Owens in the immediate aftermath.
Hartley expressed his disappointment at the length of his suspension. “I am disappointed by the result and I will wait for the written judgment as to how the panel came to their conclusion,” he said.” I now have to put it behind me and focus on supporting Saints in training and off the field.”
