Is Dylan Hartley in danger of missing the Lions Tour after seeing red today?

Dylan Hartley has put his Lions place in danger after receiving a straight red-card in the Aviva Premiership final today at Twickenham.

By Declan Whooley

The Northampton hooker was a surprise inclusion for Warren Gatland’s squad as he had limited game time in the Six Nations and his string of misdemeanours on the pitch. Today referee Wayne Barnes dismissed Hartley for calling him a “fuc**ing cheat” and that trip to Australia could well be in danger.

The clash at Twickenham has been a feisty affair with Northampton going in at the interval 11 points and a man down after the big decision from the English referee.

Northampton out-half David Myler was told by Barnes on the stroke of half-time that he could not kick the ball directly into touch, which he duly did. The whistle went, with players and management thinking that he had blown the half up, but in fact he penalised Myler for disobeying orders and Leicester were then awarded a scrum.

Hartley, known for his quick temper took the opportunity to call the international referee a “fu**ing cheat” and was duly dismissed.

Another rush of blood to the head for the hooker and Warren Gatland, plus a certain Ulster captain, must be wondering if the door will open for a hooker to come into the fold before the squad flies out to Australia.

Anxious times indeed for Hartley.