Borthwick: Hartley making progress on return from concussion

ENGLAND captain Dylan Hartley has recovered from a concussion that sidelined him since March but still has work to do to be fit for the start of the Premiership season, the national team’s forwards coach Steve Borthwick has said.

Hooker Hartley, 32, suffered a head injury in the Six Nations defeat by Ireland in March which saw him miss the end of the Premiership season and pull out of England’s three-Test tour series against South Africa.

After Hartley trained at England’s camp on Saturday and completed a strength and conditioning session the following day, Borthwick said the player was going through the process of building his fitness back up after a lengthy absence.

“For any player who has a good spell out of the game for whatever reason, there’s always a progression through the different aspects of the game to be physically prepared,”

Winning just three out of 16 games is pretty poor and it doesn’t look like things are going to get any better next year; why would they? The experiment of getting the Sunwolves involved hasn’t worked, or rather, it doesn’t look like it’s worked. Maybe there’s a big take-up of rugby in Japan and Singapore because of their Super Rugby team, but maybe not. Sure, they’ve caused the odd upset and embarrassed a team or two, but what’s the point, seriously? Ditch them, I say. Can SA please unearth a No 9 If you’re a No 9 in South Africa and haven’t been called up to a training squad you must feel very left out because every Tom, Dick and Harry seems to have got a look-in in recent years. A good few have also actually played Test rugby and not been half bad, but no one has stood out and screamed, “I’m world class”. Faf de Klerk is the best by far, but he now plays in Europe. Come on No 9s, show your country you’re the guy to take the Boks forward. Can’t we consider a draft system SA rugby bosses apparently want to cut in half the number of professional players in the country. What a good idea, as there are simply too many guys who aren’t good enough who earn a salary because of rugby. But also, there are too many good players who don’t get a chance to show their mettle because they’re playing behind someone “better” at a certain team. Let’s bring in a draft where unions can loan players for Super Rugby, so that the best get action. Borthwick said.

“He’s come into the camp incredibly enthusiastic.

“He’s enjoying being here and it looks like he enjoys being back on a rugby field,” added Borthwick.

Northampton Saints face Gloucester in their league opener on September 1, while England play the Springboks, All Blacks, Japan and Wallabies in November internationals. – Reuters