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Hartley faces fight with concussion symptoms
By Online Editors
England captain Dylan Hartley's involvement in this summer's tour of South Africa looks in doubt as he battles concussion symptoms.
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.
Source: The Guardian
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Agree with Wilson B- at best. And that is down to skilled individual players who know how to play the game - not a cohesive squad who know their roles and game plan. For those who claim that takes time to develop, the process is to keep the game plan simple at first and add layers as the squad gels and settles in to the new systems. Lack of progress against the rush D, lack of penetration and innovation in the mid-field, basic skill errors and loose forwards coming second in most big games all still evident in game 14 of the season. Hard to see significant measureable progress.
Go to commentsKeep telling yourself that. The time for a fresh broom is at the beginning - not some "balanced, incremental" (i.e. status quo) transition. All teams establish the way forward at the beginning. This coaching group lacked ideas and courage and the players showed it on the pitch. Backs are only average. Forwards are unbalanced and show good set piece but no domination in traditional AB open play. Unfortunately, Foster - Mark 2. You may be happy with those performances and have some belief in some "cunning plan" but I don't see any evidence of it. Rassie is miles ahead and increasing the gap.
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