England set to stick with Dylan Hartley as captain

Dylan Hartley will be allowed to continue as England captain by the Rugby Football Union regardless of the outcome of the hearing that threatens to curtail his RBS 6 Nations participation.

Hartley will discover this afternoon the length of the suspension he must serve after being sent off for landing a swinging arm on the head of Sean O’Brien in Northampton’s defeat by Leinster.

Champions Cup organisers confirmed the 30-year-old has been charged with striking, entailing a five-week ban for a mid-range offence and eight weeks if the infringement is considered high-end.