Hartley signs new deal... and is named skipper

NORTHAMPTON Saints have announced that Dylan Hartley has both signed a new contract and been appointed as the club’s captain for the second time.

The 31-year-old, who has made 229 appearances in his 12 years at Franklin’s Gardens, had the armband during the club’s most successful ever extended period between 2009 and 2015.

Those six years saw the Premiership, European Rugby Challenge Cup and Anglo-Welsh Cup trophies all be lifted, several other cup finals be reached – including the 2011 European Rugby Champions Cup final – and the team finish top of the Premiership table for the first time in their history.

He is not the first captain to be reappointed for a second time; some of the biggest names in Saints’ history have also led the team in multiple stretches, including Hall of Famers Billy Weston, Ron Jacobs, Ray Longland and Don White.

Northampton’s director of rugby, Jim Mallinder, says that the hooker – who has also led England to successive Six Nations titles for the first time since the turn of the millennium – has the confidence of coaches and players alike. “Dylan has rightly received recognition as a superb captain for club and country,” he said. “He led the team during a very successful period for us, has the respect of the rest of the squad and coaches alike, and knows what it takes to win silverware.

“The decision to offer Dylan the captaincy is no reflection on how Tom Wood led the team last season. Tom is an outstanding leader himself who is fully committed in training and in games each and every week, and he will remain an important part of the leadership group. But we felt that Dylan is in the right place both personally and professionally to be our captain once again.

“We’re also delighted that he has signed a new contract to stay at Franklin’s Gardens. Dylan has been one of the best hookers in Europe for several years and is hugely committed to the Saints.”

Hartley revealed that he had no hesitations in putting pen to paper, and admitted his surprise at being offered the captaincy.

“It was an easy decision to commit my long-term playing future to Northampton Saints,” he said. “After completing my 11th year at Franklin’s Gardens last season I was delighted when the club suggested extending my time here.”