Stuart Lancaster to hold Dylan Hartley talks

England head coach Stuart Lancaster has revealed that he plans to hold talks with Dylan Hartley over his disciplinary record.

The Northampton Saints hooker was handed a three-week suspension after elbowing Leicester Tigers' Matt Smith last month.

It is the fifth time that Hartley has received a ban in his career, including an 11-week spell in the stands in 2013 after he was found guilty of abusing a match official.

A similar incident later in the season could see the 28-year-old miss out on this year's World Cup on home soil, with Lancaster admitting that he needs to have a conversation with one of his star players.

"I have not spoken to Dylan. I did not want to do anything until the disciplinary process was followed through, and obviously he has a ban to serve," he told reporters.

"He knows as much as anyone the importance of on-field discipline. He will have been disappointed in himself to put himself in that position. I will have a conversation with him."

England return to action in February when the Six Nations gets underway.