Dylan Hartley cleared from Champions Cup citing

England captain Dylan Hartley has been cleared to play for England after his citing complaint for an alleged strike to the head of Clermont Auvergne prop Rabah Slimani was dismissed.

“The citing complaint against Dylan Hartley has today been dismissed by an independent panel,” a Northampton Saints statement read.

“Dylan is free to play on Saturday against Wasps.”

Saints' director of rugby Jim Mallinder added:

“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.” 

This means Hartley is free to continue playing and captain England if he is named by Eddie Jones in Thursday's squad announcement.