Who doesn’t love a good war of words
It seems that Dylan Hartley hasn’t taken too kindly to Neil Francis’ criticisms of the Northampton man published today.
In his Irish Independent column the former Ireland international feels that Hartley is anything but a positive influence on the sport after several indiscretions over the last number of years.
‘I have no respect for Hartley as a player and the way he has conducted himself over his career. He is a vinegar character on the field and his incendiary behaviour should have been halted long ago.’
Well tell us how you really feel Neil.
The former Leinster man goes on to argue that after receiving six suspensions in his career to date-the latest for an elbow at Leicester’s Matt Smith- the England international cannot be defended anymore.
Francis feels it’s time for Northampton,the RFU and officials to stand up against ‘ his eye-gouging, biting, kicking, stamping, punching, blind-siding and calling a referee a “f***ing cheat.’
Francis also takes aim at the English rugby media for not doing more to highlight the long long list of trouble the hooker has found himself in over the years
‘Not one report in the English rugby press condemned Hartley or pointed out that a three-week suspension was a scandal or that the player should be banned from playing with England because of his consistently dangerous conduct. Instead the headlines read ‘Hartley’s England future at risk’ and a professionally-prepared PR grab stating that Mallinder thought that there was no malice in it and that he thought it was just a yellow card!’
It’s not the first time that Francis has taken aim at the Englishman having also written about him in mid 2014.
However it’s likely after these tweets that the feud between both men is only warming up:
Strong opinions out there today.
— Dylan Hartley (@DylanHartley) January 8, 2015
My downfalls have been on the field for everyone to see. You hide away writing opinion and not fact, never to be held accountable. Snakes.
— Dylan Hartley (@DylanHartley) January 8, 2015
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