LONDON: Dylan Hartley has been named England captain for the Six Nations despite a dire disciplinary record featuring more than a year’s worth of suspensions.
The 29-year-old Hartley replaces Chris Robshaw as skipper, having led England on one previous occasion — against South Africa in 2012.
England head coach Eddie Jones says “Dylan is an honest, hard-working bloke and I admire his aggressive and uncompromising approach to playing rugby.”
Among Hartley’s misdemeanours is gouging the eyes of Wasps forwards James Haskell and Johnny O’Connor in 2007, an act that resulted in a 26-week ban.
England’s Six Nations campaign opens against Scotland on Feb 6. --AP