Firebrand hooker Dylan Hartley tipped to be named new England skipper
Controversial Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley is the frontrunner to succeed Chris Robshaw as England’s Six Nations captain with an announcement due on Monday, British media reported Friday.
Controversial Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley is the frontrunner to succeed Chris Robshaw as England’s Six Nations captain with an announcement due on Monday, British media reported Friday.
Hartley, 29, is believed to be new head coach Eddie Jones’ first choice as captain.
Jones is due to announce the successor to Robshaw after speaking to senior players at the squad’s training base in Surrey, southern England.
Hartley said that he was only concentrating on holding down a place in the team, telling the BBC: “It’s a huge change. The thing for me is that I’ve had no previous experience. I’ve never met the bloke [Jones].
“For me it’s a totally new thing. I’m going in to impress, work hard and try to get into the team. Hopefully I’ll make some good new relationships there.”
There is no impediment [to Hartley as captain] as far as I am concerned. This is a call for Eddie and the coaching team
New Zealand-born Hartley will get a chance to prove his fitness in the Saints’ European Rugby Champions Cup clash with Scarlets on Saturday following a spell out with concussion and a rib injury.
