Crocked Hartley misses England tour
Northampton Saints boss Jim Mallinder is hopeful Dylan Hartley will be back in time for the start of pre-season training after being ruled out of England's summer tour.
The Saints captain has had to pull out of England's tour of Australia and New Zealand due to a knee injury, which requires surgery.
The 24-year-old suffered the injury to his left knee during Saints' 21-19 defeat to Saracens in Sunday's Guinness Premiership semi-final at Franklin's Gardens.
A scan revealed Hartley will require an arthroscopy to treat the damage to his cartilage. His England place will be taken by Leicester's George Chuter. The news will come as a major blow to Hartley, who has grown in maturity since being handed the Northampton captaincy at the start of the season.
Under the New Zealand-born forward's guidance the club won the LV= Cup and reached the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup, while his form has seen him start England's last seven Tests, taking his caps total to 19.
Mallinder said "Dylan's worked hard all season and deserved his place on the England tour.
"It's a pity that he isn't able to go because of injury, but hopefully it won't be anything too serious and he'll be back in time for pre-season training to work hard with the rest of the Saints players."
Brive front-rower Steve Thompson and his Bath counterpart Lee Mears are the most likely men to take Hartley's place in the two upcoming Tests against Australia, with Chuter and Wasps' Rob Webber also among the touring party.
An RFU statement read: "Dylan Hartley saw a specialist yesterday and had a scan on a left knee injury.
"The results of the scan concluded that Dylan requires an arthroscopy in order to treat some damage to his cartilage.
"The injury was sustained in Dylan's last game for Northampton against Saracens in the Guinness Premiership semi-final.
"Dylan is therefore out of the tour to Australia and New Zealand and his place in the Senior England EPS will be taken by George Chuter."
An arthroscopy means Hartley has a much better chance of being ready for pre-season.
The advantage of arthroscopy is that the joint does not have to be opened up fully, with only two small incisions being made.
It reduces recovery time and with Hartley now having the summer off, the hooker will be ready to come back firing for Saints next season.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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