Dylan Hartley handed eight-week ban

England and Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley has been banned for eight weeks after biting Ireland's Stephen Ferris during the Six Nations encounter on March 17.

Hartley, 29, will be available for England's tour to South Africa in June, but will miss the rest of the season.

The incident occurred after 28 minutes during England's 30-9 win, and while television footage did not capture the alleged biting, Ferris and some of his teammates complained after the encounter.

Hartley has previously served a 26-week ban for gouging Wasps players Jonny O'Connor, James Haskell and Joe Worsley in 2009.