Hartley cleans up his act
Wed, 14 May 2008 13:04
Dylan Hartley, the New Zealand-born No.2 called up to play for England against the All Blacks, appears to have his playing career back on track after intervention by a forensic psychiatrist.
Hartley, originally from Rotorua in New Zealand, was named in England's squad for their two-test tour of New Zealand next month.
The Northampton-based player was on the verge of England selection but lost any chance of playing in the 2007 World Cup when he got a six-month suspension for attacks on two Wasps players.
The 22-year-old has been helped by a psychiatrist, Steve Peters, who has also assisted Cambridgeshire Police to solve some sensational murders.
Peters "has helped to transform England new boy Dylan Hartley from an extraordinarily talented, but thuggish, tyro into a potential star of the future," the Telegraph newspaper reported.
Hartley and his club, Northampton, turned to Dr Peters this time last year after the No.2 landed his ban for eye-gouging.
"As a player he was exploding more often than the geysers at his native Rotorua ... and his behaviour left a similarly bad smell," the Telegraph reported.
Dr Peters, a talented sportsman in his own right who is a world masters (over-50) sprint champion, had worked briefly with the England rugby team last year.
Former England hooker and Northampton forwards' coach Dorian West said: "Dylan's taken big steps to get that niggly rubbish out of his game. He was allowing himself to get distracted but not any more".
The New Zealander had worked hard to get the focus into his game, West said.
Hartley told the newspaper he had " to stop getting in off-the-ball situations because I could be a good enough rugby player without the niggly bits."
"What Steve [Peters] gave me was a clear plan so I know what to think about before every game. It's a step-by-step guide to what I have to do and how to put it into effect.
"I used to play my rugby with high emotion, very animated, but I was a bit of a loose unit.
"What he taught me to do was to think with the logical part of my head, and channel my energy so I still tackle and run with the same energy that I used to put into trying to annoy someone," added the No.2.
New England manager Martin Johnson said: "Hartley has long been seen as test material. He qualifies on residency and he's in on form. He deserves this chance."
