Rory Best: Dylan Hartley has time to claim Irish Lions’ captaincy

Rory Best insists Dylan Hartley still has plenty of time to state a compelling case for the British and Irish Lions’ captaincy.

Ireland captain Best believes Hartley’s latest ban will not scupper his chances of leading the Lions in New Zealand this summer.

England skipper Hartley took his career suspensions tally to 60 weeks with the six-week ban for striking Leinster’s Sean O’Brien. Boss Eddie Jones has since challenged him to prove his fitness ahead of the RBS Six Nations.