Dylan Hartley
{{Short description|England international rugby union player (born 1986)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Dylan Hartley
| image = Dylan Hartley, Twickenham - May 2012.jpg
| birth_name = Dylan Michael Hartley
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1986|3|24}}
| birth_place = Rotorua, New Zealand
| height = 1.85 m
| weight = {{convert|110|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url= http://www.rfu.com/SquadsAndPlayers/EnglandElite/DylanHartley.aspx |title= RFU Official Site of the RFU, Governing Body of Rugby Union in England |work= web page |publisher= Rugby Football Union|access-date= 21 August 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110912181753/https://www.rfu.com/SquadsAndPlayers/EnglandElite/DylanHartley.aspx |archive-date= 12 September 2011 |url-status= dead }}
| school = Rotorua Boys' High School
Beacon Community College
| position = Hooker
| repyears1 = 2007–2008
| repyears2 = 2008–2018
| repteam1 = England Saxons
| repteam2 = England
| years1 = 2003–2005
| years2 = 2005–2019
| clubs1 = Worcester
| clubs2 = Northampton Saints
| points1 = 5
| points2 = 140
| apps1 = 1
| apps2 = 251
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| ru_clubupdate = 7 November 2019
| repcaps1 = 5
| repcaps2 = 97
| reppoints1 = 10
| reppoints2 = 20
| ru_ntupdate = 7 November 2019
}}
Dylan Hartley (born 24 March 1986) is a former rugby union player who represented England and Northampton Saints.
Hartley was the captain of England from January 2016 until the end of his international career in 2019. Earning his first cap in 2008, he formerly held the record for the most capped England hooker ever before being overtaken by Jamie George in 2025.{{cite web |title=Jamie George Profile |url=https://www.englandrugby.com/follow/england-men/senior-men/jamie-george |publisher=England Rugby |access-date=9 February 2025}} Hartley captained England to a Grand Slam in 2016, the first time that England had achieved this since 2003, then back-to-back Six Nations titles and notably a historic 3-0 series win in the 2016 Cook Cup against Australia. In 14 domestic seasons with Northampton Saints Hartley captained the Saints for 8 years through their most successful period in the club’s 130-year history.{{cite web |title=Dylan Hartley retires from professional rugby |url=https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/news/dylan-hartley-retires-from-professional-rugby |publisher=Northampton Saints |access-date=9 February 2025}}
Early career
Dylan Hartley was born in Rotorua, New Zealand.{{Cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/12141343/Dylan-Hartley-England-six-nations-2016-the-making-of.html |title = From the New Zealand sticks to England captain - the making of Dylan Hartley|date = 4 February 2016|last1 = Schofield|first1 = Daniel}} He attended Rotorua Boys' High School.
Although Hartley was born and grew up in New Zealand, his mother being English automatically made him England-qualified.{{Cite web | url=http://www.punditarena.com/rugby/english-rugby/pwassell/the-homegrown-england-xv-do-england-rely-on-foreign-born-talent/ | title=The 'Homegrown' England XV: Do England Rely on Foreign-Born Talent?| date=8 January 2017}} With this in mind Dylan set his sights on playing professionally in England. At 16 he left his native New Zealand and headed to England where he attended Beacon Academy. Within a year, Worcester Warriors had offered him an academy place and at 17 years old he joined and embarked on what ended up being a 16 year professional career with Northampton Saints and England Rugby.
Domestic career
Hartley joined Worcester Warriors' academy and represented the senior side once in the 2004–05 European Challenge Cup.{{cite news|url=http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/MatchDetails?comp_id=176&match_id=11602&competition=European%20Shield%202004/05&match=Yorkshire%20Carnegie-VS-Worcester%20Warriors&date=22%20Apr%202005 |publisher=STATBUNKER|title=European Shield 2004/05 Match overview Yorkshire Carnegie VS Worcester Warriors|date=16 June 2008|access-date=17 December 2014}}
Hartley joined the Senior Academy of Northampton Saints in the summer of 2005.{{cite news|url=http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/news/2138.php|title=Academy signs England U19s duo Dylan Hartley and Alex Rae|publisher=Northampton Saints|date=5 May 2005|access-date=5 November 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312102914/http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/news/2138.php|archive-date=12 March 2012}}
Hartley started in a 2006–07 Heineken Cup quarter final victory over Biarritz Olympique.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6502417.stm|title=Biarritz 6–7 Northampton|work=BBC Sport|date=1 April 2007|access-date=5 November 2010}} That season, Northampton were relegated from the Premiership.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/6587181.stm|title=Premiership final day|work=BBC Sport|date=28 April 2007|access-date=5 November 2010}}
The following season Northampton won the EDF Energy Trophy{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7338214.stm|title=Saints seal league and cup double|work=BBC Sport|date=14 April 2008|access-date=5 November 2010}} and secured promotion from the RFU Championship.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7309850.stm|title=Northampton saints return to top flight|work=BBC Sport|date=22 March 2008|access-date=5 November 2010}} Hartley started for Northampton saints as they defeated Bourgoin in the final of 2008–09 European Challenge Cup.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8061722.stm|title=Northampton 15–3 Bourgoin |work=BBC Sport|date=22 May 2009|access-date=5 November 2010}} On 22 July 2009, Hartley was made Northampton Saints captain, replacing Bruce Reihana.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/northampton/8163789.stm|title=Saints confirm Hartley as captain|work=BBC Sport|date=22 July 2009|access-date=5 November 2010}}
Hartley captained the losing Northampton sides in the 2011 Heineken Cup Final and also the 2013 English Premiership Final.
In that final, Hartley was sent off for verbally abusing referee Wayne Barnes.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/may/26/leicester-northampton-dylan-hartley-lions |title=Dylan Hartley's red card shatters Lions dream and Northampton hopes |date=26 May 2013 |first=Robert |last=Kitson |access-date=21 April 2022| via=theguardian.com| work=The Guardian}}
Hartley won the 2014 Premiership final against Saracens.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/27590375|title=Premiership final: Saracens 20-24 Northampton Saints|date=31 May 2014|access-date=24 March 2019|via=bbc.co.uk|work=BBC Sport}}
On 17 December 2014 Northampton announced that Hartley had extended his contract for a further three years, despite a more lucrative offer from French side Montpellier, with Hartley citing his desire to remain eligible for England selection as a deciding factor.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/30513387|title=Dylan Hartley and Courtney Lawes get Northampton Saints deals|work=BBC Sport|date=17 December 2014|access-date=15 January 2015}}
Hartley helped Saints secure a place in the Champions Cup for the 2017/18 season as the side saw off Stade Francais in the European Champions Cup play-off final to take the last spot.{{Cite web | url=https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/news/latest-headlines/2017/may-2017/saints-23-stade-francais-22-friday-night-may-lights-strike-again/ |title = Northampton Saints play Stade Francais Paris in the European Cup at Franklin's Gardens on 26 May 2017 at 19:45}}
On 7 November 2019, Hartley announced his retirement from rugby due to a knee injury that had kept him side-lined for all of 2019.{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12504/11856344/dylan-hartley-ex-england-captain-retires-from-rugby-due-to-knee-injury |title=Dylan Hartley: Ex-England captain retires from rugby due to knee injury |publisher=Sky Sports |date=7 November 2019 |accessdate=11 September 2023}}
International career
Hartley represented England at age groups U18, U19s and U21s and in 2007 made his debut for the England Saxons, against Italy A.{{cite news|url=http://www.rfu.com/News/2007/February/News%20Articles/SaxonsOutclassAzzuriAtSandyPark.aspx?a=1&y=2007|title=Saxons outclass Azzuri at Sandy Park|publisher=RFU|date=2 February 2007|access-date=5 November 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926133325/http://www.rfu.com/News/2007/February/News%20Articles/SaxonsOutclassAzzuriAtSandyPark.aspx?a=1&y=2007|archive-date=26 September 2012}}
Hartley received his first cap for England during the 2008 end of year rugby tests against the Pacific Islanders.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/7714313.stm|title=England 39–13 Pacific Islanders|work=BBC Sport|date=8 November 2008|access-date=19 June 2009|first=Rob|last=Hodgetts}} Hartley made his first start for England against Argentina at Old Trafford in June 2009.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/8085872.stm|title=England 37–15 Argentina|work=BBC Sport|date=6 June 2009|access-date=19 June 2009}}
Hartley was named as the new England captain under Eddie Jones for the 2016 Six Nations Championship, replacing Chris Robshaw. England went on to win the Grand Slam and win back to back 6 Nations titles.{{cite news|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2016/03/20/england-coach-eddie-jones-hails-likeable-rogue-dylan-hartley/|title=England coach Eddie Jones hails 'likeable rogue' Dylan Hartley|date=20 March 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=22 March 2016|last1=Mairs|first1=Gavin}} Hartley then captained the team who achieved England's first ever away series win against Australia in June 2016, and during the series became England's most capped hooker of all time, a record he would hold until being overtaken by Jamie George in 2025. Under Hartley’s leadership England went on to win a world record equalling run of 18 test victories in a row.{{cite web |title=Dylan Hartley retires from professional rugby |url=https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/news/dylan-hartley-retires-from-professional-rugby |publisher=Northampton Saints |access-date=9 February 2025}}{{cite web |title=Jamie George Profile |url=https://www.englandrugby.com/follow/england-men/senior-men/jamie-george |publisher=England Rugby |access-date=9 February 2025}}
Hartley was selected for the British and Irish Lions 2013 tour to Australia but missed it due to being banned after his red card sending off in the Premiership Final.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2016/06/18/australia-7-england-23-tourists-make-history-with-their-first-se/|title=Australia 7 England 23: Heroic tourists make history with their first series win down under|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=2016-06-18|date=18 June 2016|last1=Cleary|first1=Mick}}
=International tries=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%" | |||||||
| Try | Opposing team | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | {{ru|NZ}} | London, England | Twickenham Stadium | 2010 end-of-year rugby union internationals | {{dts|format=dmy|2010|11|6}} | Loss | 16 – 26 |
| 2 | {{ru|AUS}} | Melbourne, Australia | AAMI Park | 2016 Tour of Australia | {{dts|format=dmy|2016|6|18}} | Win | 23 – 7 |
| 3 | {{ru|NZ}} | London, England | Twickenham Stadium | 2018 end-of-year rugby union internationals | {{dts|format=dmy|2018|11|10}} | Loss | 15 – 16 |
| 4 | {{ru|JPN}} | London, England | Twickenham Stadium | 2018 Autumn Internationals | {{dts|format=dmy|2018|11|17}} | Win | 35 – 15 |
Disciplinary problems
=Major instances=
Hartley had a large number of disciplinary problems in matches amounting to a total of 60 banned weeks in his career.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/18277793/dylan-hartley-disciplinary-record-60-weeks-worth-bans-detail|title=Dylan Hartley's disciplinary record, 60 weeks worth of bans in detail|publisher=ESPN|access-date=2016-06-18}}
In April 2007 Hartley was banned for 26 weeks for making contact with the eye of Wasps forwards James Haskell and Jonny O'Connor. The ban dealt an even bigger blow for Hartley as his hopes of joining the England World Cup squad were dashed and his club Northampton Saints were relegated in the same week.{{cite news|title=Saints withdraw Hartley's appeal|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/northampton/6573619.stm|work=BBC Sport|access-date=25 April 2007|date=25 April 2007}} Hartley saw his second ban come 5 years later in March 2012, 8 weeks for biting the finger of Ireland forward Stephen Ferris in a Six Nations match.{{cite news|title=Dylan Hartley receives eight-week ban for biting Stephen Ferris|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17527026|access-date=27 March 2012|work=BBC Sport|date=27 March 2012}} Then in December 2012 Hartley was banned for two weeks for punching Ulster hooker Rory Best in a Heineken Cup match.{{cite news|title=Northampton Saints' Dylan Hartley given two-week ban|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20718631|work=BBC Sport|access-date=13 December 2012|date=13 December 2012}} In May 2013 Hartley was sent off in the Aviva Premiership final against Leicester and banned for 11 weeks after being found guilty of verbally abusing a match official.{{cite news|title=Lions 2013: Dylan Hartley set to miss tour after sending off|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22668122|work=BBC Sport|access-date=27 May 2013|date=25 May 2013}} This cost Hartley his place in the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia.{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/may/25/leicester-northampton-premiership-final-dylan-hartley|title=Leicester win Premiership final as Northampton's Dylan Hartley sees red|date=25 May 2013|work=The Guardian|access-date=7 June 2013|location=London|first=Paul|last=Rees}}{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/may/28/dylan-hartley-lions-tour|title=Dylan Hartley decides not to appeal suspension and will miss Lions tour|date=28 May 2013|work=The Guardian|access-date=7 June 2013|location=London|first=Paul|last=Rees}}
In December 2014, Hartley was 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. In May 2015, Hartley was found guilty of making contact with the head of opposite number Jamie George in the semi-final English premiership loss to Saracens at Franklin's Gardens. He was found guilty by the citing commissioner and banned for four weeks, putting his England Rugby World Cup 2015 selection in jeopardy, as he would be unavailable for the first week of the tournament.{{cite web|url= http://bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/32909932|title=Four-week ban for headbutt for England hooker|date=26 May 2015|work=BBC}} In December 2016, Hartley was banned for 6 weeks having caught Leinster Rugby player Sean O'Brien with a swinging arm to the back of the head in a European Champions Cup game.{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/dylan-hartley-six-week-ban-swinging-arm-tackle-sean-obrien-a7475101.html|title=Dylan Hartley handed six-week ban for striking Leinster's Sean O'Brien|date=2016-12-14|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=2017-02-10|language=en-GB}}
=Weeks banned=
- 2007: 26 weeks
- 2012: 8 weeks
- 2012: 2 weeks
- 2013: 11 weeks
- 2014: 3 weeks
- 2015: 4 weeks
- 2016: 6 weeks
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{ESPNscrum|27818}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100727063801/http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/rugby/squad_profiles.php?player=9012&includeref=dynamic Northampton profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110912181753/https://www.rfu.com/SquadsAndPlayers/EnglandElite/DylanHartley.aspx England profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716133820/http://www.statbunker.com/rugby/btb/index.php?PL=player&PlayerID=17339&PlayerCompType=&season=&StatType=&pointsType=&PlayerInClubID= Career Stats@statbunker]
{{England national rugby union team captains}}
{{England 2011 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{British and Irish Lions 2013}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hartley, Dylan}}
Category:New Zealand rugby union players
Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in England
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Worcester Warriors players
Category:Northampton Saints players
Category:England international rugby union players
Category:Rugby union players from Rotorua
Category:New Zealand emigrants to the United Kingdom