Rugby: Kiwi-born England captain sees red after swinging arm tackle

Dlyan Hartley collects Sean O'Brien on the side of the head. Photo / Twitter

Dylan Hartley has found himself in hot water once again as the Kiwi-born England captain copped a red card and could potentially face another lengthy ban following a swinging arm tackle in a European Rugby Champions Cup match on Saturday.

Hartley was sent off after six minute shift as a replacement hooker in the Northampton Saints 37-10 home loss to Irish side Leinster.

With England mastermind Eddie Jones in the stands, the former Rotorua Boys' High School student was dismissed after a swinging arm connected with the head of Leinster flanker Sean O'Brien in the 58th minute.

WATCH: England Captain Dylan Hartley receives RED CARD v Leinster for swinging arm on flanker Sean O'Brien @ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/Pej8RMgUa1

— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) December 9, 2016

Hartley caught Irish international O'Brien on the side of the head as he fell in the tackle of another Northampton player. The incident was immediately reviewed by match officials and French referee Jerome Garces reached straight for a red card.

If the tackle leads to a substantial ban, as it could given World Rugby's crackdown on illegal contact with the head, it would be a sour end to an impressive year in which Hartley captained England to a perfect record.

The incident is another black mark on Hartley's career discipline-wise.

Among the most serious of incidents, Hartley received a 26 week ban in 2007 for making contact with the eye of two London Wasps players, and in 2013 he copped an 11 week suspension and missed the Lions tour of Australia for verbally abusing a match official.