Saints star banned for six months

ENGLAND World Cup prospect Dylan Hartley’s career is in ruins after he received a 26-week suspension for gouging.

The Northampton hooker has been banned from rugby until October 17 this year — three days before the World Cup Final in Paris.

An RFU disciplinary panel found him guilty of illegally making contact with the eye or eye areas of Wasps back-row forwards James Haskell and Ireland’s Jonny O’Connor during Saints’ 35-29 Guinness Premiership defeat at Adams Park nine days ago.