Dylan Hartley Retires

[happywomble]

He has failed to recover from a knee injury. I am sure the concussion issues have not helped either

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50332937

[fleabane]

A bit of a nemesis for us, but a great servant for England. Wish him well.

[sapajo]

For me he was a Marmite player and I do not like Marmite. That said, I wish him well in his future endeavours.

[WhitecapTiger]

Spoke briefly with the guy off field once, seemed perfectly fine.

Only time I supported / felt sympathy for him was the biting ban....officials clearly ignoring Ferris 'fish hooking' him, IIRC he tried to bring ref's attention to it - no joy, I would have done exactly the same.

All the rest ill discipline was stupidity and cost his club so much - not referred to as "Dull 'un" for nothing I think - still don't buy he was calling OTY a cheat in the 2013 prem final...... Very lucky as England captain to have a team that played well enough to be captained easily (just my opinion) and often led themselves. A club icon based on emotion and 'aura' but an icon nonetheless, pantomime villain to supporters of other clubs, particularly Tigers, a good ambassador for his club off the pitch from bits I saw. Some of our past greats may be described that way by others.

Best scrum 'popper upper' ever....

Wish him well in future endeavours - just hope personally that those endeavours are not in commentary or punditry where his aura will get fluffed up and the glitter deployed by a starry eyed presenter.

[kk20gb30]

..questions on leading by example as a captain but was not out of place on the international scene.
Wish him well..

[CitizenSmiff]

96 caps for England, can't argue with that.

[Cagey Tiger]

96 caps for England, can't argue with that.

I'm sure someone on here will take up the challenge

[WhitecapTiger]

96 caps for England, can't argue with that.

I'm sure someone on here will take up the challenge

Ben Youngs has around 95 - plenty of people argue with those.....

[Jimmy Skitz]

shame to see any sportsman retire due to injury

[JP14]

Real shame, obviously had his bad moments, but was an excellent England captain and will be immortalised for that. A very respectable person off the field too. Wish him and his young family well.

[longlivethecrumbie]

Definitely a marmite player. If you're a sinners fan then they'd defend him to the ends of the earth (as we would do with Johno I guess.)

I didn't like him as a player but as others have said, you don't get 96 caps by being a poor player. That said, you have to have a few short fuses to spend 60 weeks on the naughty step in a 13 year career - that's some going.

Good luck in your retirement, Dylan.

[Smudger67S]

Top bloke, still big mates with Craig Newby.
Best of luck Dylan.

[mol2]

Not ever going to popular at Welford Road.

Tended to be a liability in terms of temperament but largely controlled that in latter years.
His number of England caps suggest he was more than capable!

[G.K]

Bye Popper Hartley

[Noggs]

A good player but it took him far too long to find a way of controlling his own actions and as such I was surprised that he remained as captain of club and country for as long as he did. I can only assume he had leadership qualities which did not always seem obvious to the outside observer.

As someone has already said it is always sad when a player has to end the job early because of injury but I feel sure he will find a new future without too much of a problem, perhaps in a coaching role somewhere.

Good luck to the man.