Overnight, the rugby media has reported that new England coach Eddie Jones is set to replace Chris Robshaw as
England Rugby captain, and the new man for the role appears to be the controversial Dylan Hartley.
Any even moderate rugby fan will be aware of Dylan's chequered past. His disciplinary record is quite horrific and he has amassed an incredible 54 weeks of suspension over his career. Here are the gory details........
- April 2007 - Banned for 26 weeks for eye-gouging Wasps forwards James Haskell and Jonny O'Connor.
- March 2012 - Banned for eight weeks for biting Ireland forward Stephen Ferris in a Six Nations match.
- December 2012 - Banned for two weeks for punching Ulster hooker Rory Best in a Heineken Cup match.
- May 2013 - Sent off in the Aviva Premiership final and banned for 11 weeks after being found guilty of verbally abusing a match official. Missed the Lions tour to Australia.
- December 2014 - Banned for three weeks for an elbowing offence in the match against Leicester Tigers. His elbow made contact with the nose of winger Matt Smith.
- May 2015 - Found guilty of an off-the-ball headbutt on Jamie George in the semi-final of the English premiership.
And the video evidence.....
The Elbow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZznTpNJ9YlQ
Swearing at referee Wayne Barnes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EV-aM3j0kg
Biting Stephen Ferris:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfJu3oSBx0M
It doesn't look great when you watch them back. He is certainly not the role model you would put on a pedastal for the next generation of rugby players and fans to look up to. However there is something about Dylan that reminds me of Ian McGeechan’s decision to appoint Martin Johnson as captain of the 1997 British & Irish Lions touring party. Geech selected Johnson as he wanted a big guy to knock on the
South African dressing room and look the Springboks players straight in the eye, or even better, down on them. If I was the opposing team’s captain and had Dylan Hartley darkening you door...... well you know you would be in for a battle!
It's not too late to treat a loved one (or yourself!) to an
England Replica shirt this Christmas. The last date for guaranteed delivery for the big day is Tuesday 22nd December.
