British and Irish Lions

The Saints hooker was found guilty by a three-man Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel of illegally making contact with Wasps back-row forward James Haskell's eye, and the eye area of Wasps flanker Jonny O'Connor during a Guinness Premiership game 10 days ago.

The appeal will be heard in London on May 3, with Hartley not being selected by Northampton until the matter is resolved.

Hartley is currently suspended until October 17, three days before the Rugby World Cup final in Paris.

The uncapped 21-year-old was rated as a strong contender to make England's two-Test South Africa tour next month, and then possibly the World Cup squad.

He will miss relegation-threatened Northampton's Guinness Premiership clash against London Irish on Saturday, when defeat would effectively send Saints sliding into National League One.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.

Tom Youngs has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top of the British & Irish game but he won't be resting on his laurels ahead of his first Lions adventure.

Check out the video from the day the HSBC Cubs met The British & Irish Lions at the Vale of Glamorgan in a day they will remember for the rest of their lives.