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Hartley faces fight with concussion symptoms

By Online Editors
England captain Dylan Hartley

England captain Dylan Hartley’s involvement in this summer’s tour of South Africa looks in doubt as he battles concussion symptoms.

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Hartley has missed Northampton Saints’ last two games after he showed concussion symptoms following England’s Six Nations defeat to Ireland more than three weeks ago.

Northampton Saints have not given a time frame for Hartley’s return to the playing field as he must still pass the graduated return-to-play protocols – which entail coming through six stages of increased training – but the Northampton coach, Alan Dickens, confirmed he is yet to do so.

“Dylan reported concussion symptoms after the Ireland game so it’s one of those – he’ll go through the return-to-play protocols,” Dickens said in an interview on The Guardian’s website.

“In terms of the focus on concussion now, it’s a concern for all the players. That’s why they’re so stringent in terms of the process to return to play. We’ll do what’s right by Dylan.”

Hartley has a history of head injuries. In the 2015/2016 European season, he missed 14 weeks of action after suffering to head injuries.

England are already set to be without Courtney Lawes and Nathan Hughes for their Southern African tour due to injury.

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Source: The Guardian

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Bull Shark 3 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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