Publications
Partners
Cape Town - British bookmakers are offering odds of 16/1 that new England captain Dylan Hartley will be sent off during the upcoming Six Nations.
According to the Stuff website, the New Zealand-born hooker has been named captain by new England coach Eddie Jones who has ignored Hartley's lengthy record of ill-discipline that totals 54 weeks in bans.
The bookies agree with a large rugby sentiment that Hartley is a disaster waiting to happen.
"Dylan has a shocking disciplinary record and in the heat of the moment he could be prone to a further lapse in judgement," William Hill spokesperson Rupert Adams said.
Hartley seems sure to be targeted by opposition, aware of his short-fuse and the tactical trouble his departure from the field as captain would be.
Jones will be hoping the new responsibilities can help Hartley tidy up his act but the skipper gave little indication he would back away from his direct approach.
Dylan Hartley's judiciary "record":
April 2007 - banned for 26 weeks after being cited for eye-gouging Wasps forwards James Haskell and Jonny O'Connor. Ban ended his Rugby World Cup hopes.
March 2012 - received an eight-week suspension after being cited for biting Ireland forward Stephen Ferris' finger while playing for England in a Six Nations game.
December 2012 - banned for two weeks after being cited for punching Ulster hooker Rory Best during a Heineken Cup match.
May 2013 - sent off for verbally abusing referee Wayne Barnes during the Aviva Premiership final against Leicester at Twickenham. Handed an 11-week suspension that sidelined him for the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia which he had been selected for.
December 2014 - sent off for elbowing Leicester centre Matt Smith in the face. Banned for three weeks.
May 2015 - banned for four weeks after head-butting Saracens' Jamie George in Northampton's 29-24 Aviva Premiership semifinal defeat to Saracens. Lost his World Cup position as a consequence.
Here is a closer look at Dylan Hartley's list of offences..#SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/DVJQBNgoNd
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) January 25, 2016
