Dylan Hartley has missed out on one of the biggest opportunities of his career with the news that he will not be selected for the Rugby World Cup.
After being chosen in the 50-man training squad just last week, Hartley has picked up a four-week ban following his headbutt on Saracens' Jamie George and Stuart Lancaster has chosen to go ahead without Hartley in his plans.
Although the tournament does not begin until September, the ban only comes in to account when England have matches, and not over the summer.
This would have led to Hartley missing the opening game against Fiji, and if he were to have been recalled after that later in the tournament he would not have played a meaningful rugby match for nearly four months making him short of match sharpness.
This is not a one-off incident for the hooker either, with his bans now amounting to 54 weeks over his career, and it also led to him missing out on selection for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.
Hartley said: "I am devastated with what has happened and the position I have put myself and the England team in.
"What happened is unacceptable and I understand why this decision has been made."
Replacing Hartley in the squad will be Jamie George, the man who Hartley has been banned for headbutting.
He joins Tom Youngs, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Rob Webber in the battle for the three hooker spots which will eventually go forward to the World Cup when Lancaster selects his final squad.
Lancaster said of Hartley: "We are obviously very disappointed with the situation that Dylan has put himself in and where that leaves us as a squad.
"I have spoken to him and he knows he has let himself and everyone else down."
The door is not completely shut on a return for Hartley with Lancaster going on to say the hooker will be considered once his ban has ended.