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.

Hartley, 21, was reported by independent citing officer Alan Mansell, although he was found not guilty of an identical charge in relation to a third Wasps player, England’s Joe Worsley.

In addition to missing Saints’ Premiership relegation clash against London Irish on Saturday, he must also sit out England’s two-Test South Africa tour in May and June, World Cup warm-up games in August and the World Cup defence in the autumn.

Uncapped New Zealander Hartley, who qualifies for England on residency, was tipped to put pressure on England hookers George Chuter and Lee Mears. But he is now reeling from what is thought to be the longest suspension for a top-flight England player since Bath prop Kevin Yates was found guilty of ear-biting in 1998.

RFU disciplinary officer Jeff Blackett: “Contact with an opponent’s eyes is a serious offence.

“It is one of the most abhorred by rugby players.”

Northampton have until 5pm today to appeal.

Meanwhile South African club, Rawsonville wants answers from Boland Rugby Union (BRU) executives who “mistakenly” gave permission for a player, banned for life after the death of a Rawsonville opponent, to play in a match at the weekend.

Benjamin Zimri, of Delicious Rugby Club, had been banned for life following his role in an on-pitch brawl between players of Delicious and Rawsonville in June 2006.

However, while an appeal was being made on the weekend, the BRU mistakenly allowed Zimri to play in a competitive match.

Rawsonville Rugby Club’s Riaan Loots, 24, an out-half for Rawsonville Rugby Club died in hospital after being kicked and elbowed in the head in a game on June 23, 2006.

Zimri, along with fellow Delicious player Wayne Matthee, faces a murder charge in connection with Loots’s death and in court next month.