Hartley hearing date set

Northampton captain Dylan Hartley will face a disciplinary hearing in Dublin on Thursday.

The England and Saints hooker was cited for allegedly striking opposite number Rory Best with his arm during Northampton's Heineken Cup pool defeat against Ulster last Friday night.

European Rugby Cup has announced that Wales' Roger Morris has been appointed as independent judicial officer to hear the complaint against Hartley.

He could face a ban of anything between two weeks for a low end entry point, to a maximum 52-week suspension.

Cardiff Blues' Wales international scrum-half Lloyd Williams has also been summoned to Dublin on Thursday after he was sent off for an alleged dangerous tackle against Montpellier two days ago.

And Newport Gwent Dragons flanker Jevon Groves faces a Thursday hearing as well following his red card for an alleged dangerous tackle during the Dragons' Amlin Challenge Cup victory over Italian side Mogliano last weekend.