Dylan Hartley has gotten off ridiculously lightly for striking Sean O’Brien

The Northampton man will be able to take a full part in the Six Nations.

Dylan Hartley has received a six week ban for his challenge on Sean O'Brien. Hartley received a straight red card from Jerome Garces for a straight-arm tackle on ball-carrying Sean O'Brien, at Franklin's Gardens last Friday. The hooker had lasted just six minutes, off the bench, before he zeroed in on the Leinster flanker and left him in a heap. Hartley's actions were not defended by Northampton Saints coach Jim Mallinder after the game and came in for criticism from the likes of Lawrence Dallaglio, Shane Williams and Brian O'Driscoll. The former Ireland captain told SportsJOE:

"There is a duty of care from the tackler coming in to effect a tackle - and that wasn't a tackle; there was not attempt to grab and it was incredibly loose and reckless... It is more of a red card every time I see it."

The independent disciplinary met with Hartley in London today and, after deliberation, came up with the lenient decision. Hartley previously amassed 54 weeks of bans spread over seven separate decisions, for incidents such as eye-gouging, elbowing, head-butting and biting the finger of an opponent. The ban means Hartley will be available to play in time for England's Six Nations campaign.