Harrison leaps to defence of banned Dylan Hartley

Northampton Saints flanker Teimana Harrison has leapt to the defence of Dylan Hartley, who was banned for six weeks yesterday following his red card against Leinster, with Harrison insisting his teammate “is not a prick”.

England captain Hartley was sent off 58 minutes into Saints’ 10-37 Champions Cup defeat to Leinster at Franklin’s Gardens last Friday following a swinging arm on Sean O’Brien. The six-week ban means he will be free for England’s entire Six Nations campaign.

Hartley appeared before an independent disciplinary hearing in London to be sanctioned for the third red card of his career.