Hartley faces hearing over alleged biting of Ferris

England hooker Dylan Hartley will find out today if his hopes of making the summer tour to South Africa are in jeopardy after being cited for allegedly biting an opponent.

The 26-year-old Northampton captain, who has won 39 caps for his country, faces a disciplinary hearing after being accused of biting the finger of Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris during England’s 30-9 RBS 6 Nations victory on March 17.

The offence carries a low-end entry point of a 12-week suspension, while the mid-range punishment is 18 weeks and there is a ban of 24-plus weeks at the top end in the International Rugby Board’s disciplinary sanctions table.

The maximum sanction is a four-year punishment.

A suspension could potentially rule Hartley out of part, if not all, of England’s trip to South Africa and end his involvement in Northampton’s Aviva Premiership title challenge.

If he were to be found guilty Hartley would be facing the second major suspension of his professional career, having served a 26-week ban for gouging in 2007 after being cited for making contact with the eye areas of Wasps players Jonny O’Connor, James Haskell and Joe Worsley during a Premiership fixture.

Hartley pleaded not guilty on all three counts, but a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel found him guilty in relation to the offences against Haskell and O’Connor, but he was cleared on the Worsley charge.

The incident with Ferris occurred during the 28th minute of England’s comfortable Twickenham win, which saw them secure second place in the Six Nations table after an encouraging campaign under interim coach Stuart Lancaster.

Television footage did not capture the alleged incident but Ferris and some of his team-mates complained to Welsh referee Nigel Owens in the immediate aftermath.

Owens said he had not seen anything but told captains Chris Robshaw and Rory Best: “I have an accusation of biting, a clear mark on the finger.

“I did not see something. If I do it will be dealt with severely, which would be a red card.

“It could be dealt with afterwards. If it is seen it will be dealt with. I did not see it.

“Have a word. Nothing like that takes place in this game. I can only deal with what I see. Have a word please.

“I have had a look. Unless I can see it, it’s been dealt with, okay?”

Owens then spoke to Ferris while the Ulster forward received treatment, saying: “I have done all I can. It has been noted. If I don’t see it I can’t do nothing about it. It has been spoken about and dealt with.”