Dylan Hartley Rejects Montpellier: New Deal at Northampton Saints Boosts England

Dylan Hartley, the 61-cap hooker, has given England and coach Stuart Lancaster a boost by deciding to sign a new deal at Northampton Saints rather than cross the channel in a big-money move to Montpellier.

As reported by Mike Cleary for The Telegraph in late November, Northampton captain Hartley had been weighing up a lucrative move to Montpellier, which would begin after England host the 2015 Rugby World Cup next autumn.

Fellow England forward Courtney Lawes and five other players also penned contracts at Northampton.

According to Sky Sports, Hartley’s decision was based purely on repaying the loyalty he has received at Franklins Gardens:

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It’s no secret I was offered a deal to join one of the leading French sides, Montpellier, which would have been worth significantly more. But money isn’t everything.

I don’t want to come across all ‘holier than thou’ over this, but I do believe the world loyalty has gone out of fashion a bit, and for me that really means something.

I have a great admiration for the one-club men, across a variety of sports, and if I can finish my career with Saints as my only professional club I’ll be a very proud man.

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Hartley also made reference to the way the club stood by him following numerous acts of indiscipline, most notably being sent off just before half-time in the 2013 Premiership final against Leicester for swearing at referee Wayne Barnes. Despite heroic resistance, Northampton lost the final in Hartley’s one moment of rage.

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Saints have shown incredible loyalty towards me, particularly during my well-documented disciplinary issues, and it’s great that I can take this opportunity to try to repay their faith in me.

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On England, Hartley commented: “I’m obviously aware that staying at Saints means I will continue to be eligible for England in the run-up to the 2019 World Cup, not just next year’s competition.”

Hartley’s decision to remain in the England fold is a major boost for Stuart Lancaster and the RFU on two fronts. Firstly, Hartley has been one of England’s most consistent performers, and the set piece was England’s leading light throughout a difficult autumn. As the hooker and line-out thrower, Hartley was integral to that effort.

Secondly, it represents a coup for the RFU that an experienced player nearing 30 opted to keep representing England rather than seek a handsome retirement package in France. A move to Montpellier would have made Hartley ineligible to play for England unless the RFU took the unlikely decision to invoke the fabled “exceptional circumstance” clause.

With the Six Nations looming, Hartley will now look to fight off competition from fit-again Tom Youngs and Rob Webber as England’s first-choice No. 2.