Dylan Hartley has let Northampton and England down - Eddie Jones

England coach Eddie Jones has strongly condemned the red-card offence by Northampton Saints hooker Dylan Hartley after which he was handed a six-week ban.

The incident happened during the European Champions Cup, where Hartley was representing his club Northampton Saints and was sent off by 57th minute - six minutes after he made the appearance in the game - for performing a stiff arm tackle on Leinster flanker Sean O'Brien.

Hartley, who enjoyed phenomenal success as England captain in the last one year under Jones is in line to make his return for the Six Nations tournament but Jones in an interview to Daily Telegraph said the 30-year-old has let his country down.

"Dylan will be more disappointed than anyone about what has happened and he has got to cop the penalty, because the World Rugby directive on protecting the head is 100 per cent right," he said.

"He has let down himself, he has let down his club and he has let down his country."

Hartley will be heading into the Six Nations tournament without much match practice and Jones assured that England will pick the best available squad at that time which has cast doubt on his selection.

"He is eligible for selection for the Six Nations and it comes down to the case for every selection - we pick the best 23 and if he is in the best 23, then he has a chance to be captain," said Jones.

"This is not the last chance for him but he understands that he can't behave in the way he did."