Hartley dreams hit by long ban

Last updated at 11:13 25 April 2007

Dylan Hartley's dream of a fast track into England's World Cup squad turned into a nightmare last night when he was hit with a six-month ban for gouging two Wasps' players.

A three-hour hearing ended with guilty verdicts on two of the three charges brought against the 21-year-old Northampton hooker of 'illegally making contact with the eyes or eye areas' of England flanker James Haskell and Haskell's Irish team-mate Jonny O'Connor.

Scroll down for more

Only 24 hours earlier, Hartley had been among a raft of uncapped players drawn up by head coach Brian Ashton as contenders for the end-of-season Tests in South Africa.

Now Hartley cannot play again until October 17, three days before the World Cup Final.

The offences, committed during the Premiership match at Adams Park 10 days ago, carried a maximum suspension of three years.

But the ban was reduced because of Hartley's 'good character, youth and inexperience'.

Harlequins are releasing former All-Black fly half Andrew Mehrtens.

Mike Catt is on the shortlist for the Professional Rugby Players' Association Player of the Year award.

He is joined by favourite Glen Jackson of Saracens, Bristol pair Roy Winters and Dan Ward-Smith plus Leicester's Alesana Tuilagi.

David Strettle, Toby Flood, Tom Rees, Shane Geraghty and Anthony Allen vie for the Young Player of the Year Award.