Dylan Hartley gives his strong opinion on Eddie Jones future as England boss
Rugby NewsSaturday, 22 February 2020 at 09:55
Dylan Hartley has urged the RFU to extend Eddie Jones' contract.
The former England captain wrote in the Daily Mail that the Aussie, who he served under as captain for two and half years, is '100 per cent' the man for the job.
"A lot of people have been chucking stones at Eddie Jones but my message for the RFU is clear: give him a new contract," wrote Hartley.
"Dave at the pub might disagree because he’s mildly offended by something Eddie’s said, but having been his captain for two and a half years, I think he’s the man for the job,
"In my opinion, they should pin their colours to the mast and say: ‘Rugby World Cup 2023, here we come, this is our main man.’ Go for it."
You can read Hartley's full column by clicking here.
Rugby Union's most banned XV: The notorious Bad Boys!
Fullback: PERCY MONTGOMERY
The Springboks star was handed a two-year ban after he pushed touch judge Peter Rees to the ground while playing for Newport against Swansea at St Helens in May 2003, but 18 months of the punishment was suspended. He was also fined £15,000 over the incident.
Winger: DELON ARMITAGE
A disciplinary committee recently described Armitage as “an habitual offender” with “an appalling disciplinary record”.
In January 2011, he was suspended for eight weeks following a verbal and physical altercation with an anti-doping official after playing for London Irish against Bath.
Two years later, having moved to Toulon, he received another eight-week ban after a tip tackle against Montpellier.
And in December of last year, he was banned for 12 weeks for using abusive language towards Leicester fans, a punishment reduced to eight weeks on appeal.
Centre: SIRELO NAQELEVUKI
In 2007, the Fijian flier, who has had spells with Western Province and Exeter, tested positive for cannabis after representing his country in the IRB Sevens in George, South Africa. He was banned from playing rugby for three months. Played at prop in sevens and wing or centre in 15-a-side.
Centre: SERU RABENI
Having only just returned from a three-week ban for a high tackle on Newcastle’s Jamie Noon, Leicester’s Fijian centre Rabeni was then found guilty of eye-gouging Saracens hooker Andy Kyriacou in March 2008 and suspended for 14 weeks by a RFU disciplinary hearing.
Winger: WENDELL SAILOR
Wallaby winger Sailor was given a two-year suspension after testing positive for cocaine after playing a match for the NSW Waratahs in April 2006. The dual code star returned to rugby league in 2008 once his ban expired and has gone on to host television show Australia’s Greatest Athlete.
Fly-half: MATTHIEU UGALDE
Was handed a 14-week ban for a horrific-looking eye gouge on opposing winger Armand Battle. Not one for the faint-hearted.
Scrum-half: JULIEN DUPUY
The Ulster-Stade Francais Heineken Cup tie in December 2009 was certainly a volatile affair. While Stade prop David Attoub was banned for 70 weeks for gouging Stephen Ferris, scrum-half Dupuy was also guilty of making contact with the eye of the Irish flanker. His 24-week ban was reduced by one week on appeal.
Prop: JOHAN LE ROUX
Springboks prop le Roux was given a hefty ban after biting All Black legend Sean Fitzpatrick’s ear in a Test in Wellington in 1994. He later said: “For an 18-month suspension, I feel I probably should have torn it off. Then at least I could say, ‘look, I’ve returned to South Africa with the guy’s ear’.” Lovely.
Hooker: DYLAN HARTLEY
Take a deep breath.
April 2007 - banned for 26 weeks after being cited for eye-gouging Wasps forwards James Haskell and Johnny O'Connor.
March 2012 - received an eight-week suspension after being cited for biting the finger of Ireland back row Stephen Ferris while playing for England in a Six Nations game.
December 2012 - banned for two weeks after being cited for punching Ulster hooker Rory Best during a Heineken Cup match.
May 2013 - sent off for verbally abusing referee Wayne Barnes during the Premiership final against Leicester at Twickenham. Received an 11-week suspension that prevented him from taking his place on the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.
December 2014 - sent off for elbowing Leicester centre Matt Smith in the face. Banned for three weeks.
May 2015 - banned for four weeks after head-butting Saracens' Jamie George in Northampton's 29-24 Aviva Premiership semi-final defeat to Saracens. As a direct consequence, England ruled Hartley out of their World Cup plans.
December 2016 - sent off for striking Leinster flanker Sean O'Brien with a swinging arm. Suspended for six weeks.
Prop: DAVID ATTOUB
Stade Francais prop Attoub was banned after gouging Ulster’s Stephen Ferris during a stormy Heineken Cup clash at Ravenhill in December 2009.
Ferris told the hearing: “The contact was very strong and extremely painful - the finger in my right eye was forced downward in a poking and gouging motion; it was someone trying to drive a finger as hard as he could into my eye socket and I could not prevent it.” Ouch!
Lock: BAKKIES BOTHA
Eight weeks for “attacking the face” of Aussie hooker Brendan Cannon in 2003; three weeks for striking another Wallaby, Phil Waugh, in 2009; two matches for an illegal clear out on Adam Jones in the second Lions Test in the same year; four weeks for a similar offence on Gio Aplon in 2010; and nine weeks for a headbutt on Jimmy Cowan in 2010.
Lock: TREVOR BRENNAN
In 2007, the Irish firebrand flanker was warming up to come on as a sub for Toulouse at home to Ulster when he jumped into the crowd and attacked an Ulster fan, later alleging abuse of his mother had triggered his action. He announced his retirement but was given a life ban anyway, reduced to five years on appeal.
Flanker: CALUM CLARK
This one still makes me wince. Northampton flanker Clark was found guilty of intentionally hyper-extending and breaking the arm of Leicester hooker Rob Hawkins during the 2012 LV cup final. The ban was initially for 64 weeks, but was halved due to his guilty plea.
Flanker: NEIL BACK
England flanker Back was in big trouble from the moment he pushed referee Steve Lander to the ground on the final whistle of Leicester’s 1996 Pilkington Cup final defeat against Bath.
He maintained he had mistaken Lander for Bath back-rower Andy Robinson, but it didn’t wash and he was handed a six-month ban. In 2005, he picked up a four-week ban for punching Wasps’ Joe Worsley in the Zurich Grand Final.
Number 8: MARK JONES
The combative former Wales No.8 was involved in a few high-profile incidents.There was a fight with prop Stuart Evans in 1996 that saw them both sent off and him banned for four weeks.
Two years later, he was dismissed for landing a haymaker on a young Ian Gough, picking up a three-match ban. And then in 2004, at the ripe old age of 38, he was suspended for 10 games for a head butt in the Welsh Cup final.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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