Dylan Hartley levels criticism at rugby bosses

Former England captain Dylan Hartley has come out guns blazing with criticism of those in charge of the modern, professional era, according to a report in businesslive.co.za.

Hartley, who won 96 caps for England over a decade-long international career, did not mince his words while conveying his view of the current state of the game and, more particularly, the players within it.

“My generation of players have been crash dummies for a sport in transition from semi-professionalism,” Hartley told the Daily Telegraph.

“It is being reshaped, subtly but relentlessly, by money men, geopoliticians, talking heads and television executives. They treat us as warm bodies, human widgets. Players cut the ends off their boots so they can play with broken toes.

“They gobble painkillers like Smarties. After matches dressing rooms are like Mash (mobile army surgical hospital) clearing houses ... people are being put back together with stitches and glue. Senior players have bits falling off them.

“It would be wrong to attempt to skirt the unavoidable truth that as players become bigger, faster and stronger they will be chewed up and spat out quicker. It is a given, therefore, that we need to insist on the highest standards of care.

“Everyone told me that when you retire your body feels great. I feel completely the opposite.”

Hartley, 34, narrowly missed out on captaining England during the 2019 World Cup campaign, a knee injury ruling him out of contention.