Mallinder issues statement in wake of Dylan Hartley's citing decision

Northampton Saints have issued the following statement in response to the outcome of Dylan Hartley's citing.

The citing complaint against Hartley has today been dismissed by an independent panel and the hooker is free to play against Wasps on Saturday in the Aviva Premiership at Franklin's Gardens.

Saints' director of rugby Jim Mallinder said:

“The decision to cite Dylan from Saturday’s game against Clermont was unjustified. This was a run-of-the-mill rugby incident during a high intensity game of European rugby.

"Anyone who watched the game could see that this was completely accidental – a misjudgement at a clear–out, plain and simple. When we should be preparing for a crucial league game against Wasps this Saturday, we have instead been distracted by what we believe was an unwarranted judicial hearing.

"Citings like this do beg the question of whether Dylan is being singled out for what has happened in the past rather than being judged solely on Saturday’s game.”