Six Nations - Hartley gave up booze for England

Fri, 17 Feb 16:11:00 2012

Dylan Hartley has revealed he gave up drinking soon after the Rugby World Cup in a bid to get his England career back on track.

RUGBY England's Dylan Hartley - 0

The Northampton captain recognised the need to change parts of his lifestyle after England's failed campaign in New Zealand.

Although he spent Friday helping England sponsors O2 with their 'pie and a pint' promotion, Hartley has not touched either in four months.

"I have kicked that in the butt. I haven't had a drink in a long time now," he said. "I started thinking about the Six Nations back in November and I have been fully focused on being in the best possible shape to compete in this team.

"The way things went there (at the World Cup) it was a good time to refocus my career and look at things I could do differently.

"As a leader of this group I needed to set an example, change the way I was doing things.

"I looked at my training and using my time a lot better, and the gains I have had from that have been rewarding."

Hartley added: "You get a lot of players who are trying to do things outside of rugby. While you have this opportunity you have to put all your effort and energy into it.

"There are a lot of distractions that come your way but as a player and a person you have to filter those out and think what is best for you.

"Rugby is who you are. That is why I am where I am. If the rugby stops the endorsements and things like that stop. You need to make sure you have enough time to focus on your rugby."

PA Sport

Comment 12 - 31 of 31

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  1. Dylan, do england a favour and give up rugby!

    From Huw Jardon, on Mon 20 Feb 17:31

  2. MATTHEW I'm afraid you got the wrong HOWARD, and­ why do you keep calling other men baby or sweet Pea???­ It's ok to come out of the closet MATTHEW ROBINSON,­ nobody on here will hold it against you for being gay.­ Personally I'm not interested in men, especially­ you, but I remember you were very interested in the­ ladyboy "Princess". Why don't you ever­ comment on the rugby on this forum?instead of being­ obsessed with gayboy activity. Also I saw the reply­ from HOWARD, which appeared for a few minutes but it­ clearly worried you because you had it deleted­ hahahahahaha, I believe he wanted you to go to Hackney­ and sample the size of his fist in your face­ hahahahahaha, not so big now are you ??, you­ coward!!!
    Anyway back to the rugby, Wales to beat­ England by 15 points, yayyyyyy loving life!!!

    From Howard T, on Mon 20 Feb 5:06
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    England clear favourites then well well.

    From Peter C, on Mon 20 Feb 0:24

  4. MATTHEW ROBINSON you write that i am annoyed when­ obsession is turned on ME , YOU KNOW THAT IS NOT TRUE I­ DO NOT GIVE A F==K, but you are the one who clearly­ can not take it back , yet another comment you have had­ deleted because you are annoyed with the answers ­ ,before you write on this forum you have got to learn­ that if you give you must take it back , i have noticed­ on this page alone you have written seven or eight­ comments and you have had the one comment that i wrote­ back to you removed by groveling to the English a rse­ holes than run this forum on the report button, so i­ think we all know who is annoyed and hates his words­ turned back on him dont we ,but i will agree with­ you on one of your quotes that you hope it's a­ great game­ of rugby on Saturday. May the best team­ win, I fancy­ yours! I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT THE ONLY­ DIFFERENCE IS THAT I FANCY MY TEAM AS WELL , BUT THE­ GAME COULD GO ANY WAY WITH ENGLAND AT HOME , BUT THIS­ FARRELL IS IN FOR A VERY BAD TIME HE WILL NOT BE­ SLEEPING WELL THIS WEEK THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF­ BED WETTING GOING ON , BECAUSE ON SATURDAY HE WILL­ THINK HE IS STANDING ON A RAILWAY CROSSING 80­ MINUTES .

    From TERRY, on Sun 19 Feb 20:38
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I have been a rugby fan all my life and have played and­ been involved in the game for over 50 years now. when­ these sites started I thought that it was a great way­ to talk to people from all over the world about the­ game we love. I´m welsh and am always glad to see wales­ doing well, but rugby, like life, goes in cycles, you­ win some you lose some.
    Unfortunately this is my last­ comment on any site as it is so depressing reading and­ seeing the zenophobic bile and rubbish that people put­ on here in the name of sport. I have travelled the­ world watching the game, and had a beer and­ entertainment in crowds from zimbabwe to toronto with­ no hint of trouble or argument. yes the banter is­ always there, and so it should be, but the always clear­ line between rugby fans and soccer fans is becoming­ sadly blurred which is a shame.
    For those of you left­ on these sites you have a responsibility to the game. I­ shall still look forward to saving for my trip with the­ lions next year where the true spirit of rugby still­ thankfully exists.
    Goodbye
    H

    From Howard Westcott, on Sun 19 Feb 16:14
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I have never been anybody else other than me TERRY and­ I would let you be but for one thing. When someone­ disagrees with you, you immediately bring into question­ their sexuality as do Howard et al. And yet you're­ annoyed when your obsession is turned on you, I'm­ as straight as any Dai and hope it's a great game­ of rugby on saturday. May the best team win, I fancy­ yours!

    From MATTHEW ROBINSON, on Sun 19 Feb 2:56

  7. Michael G , calm down luv life is to short to hate­ that much!

    From Laine, on Sun 19 Feb 1:51
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    The Welsh (just like their sweaty sock cousins north of­ the border) are all too quick to slag off the English,­ yet are so gutless and impoverished that they won't­ vote for independence in any great number. Please, do­ us a favour and vote for it - if not for us then for­ yourself. either way, we English will rid ourselves of­ a bunch of whining tossers. Then you can sell your­ fluffy toy Welsh dragons and other assorted tat to­ those who care. You can also revert to speaking that­ silly gobbledygook you call a language too. Either that­ or move to Patagonia and live with your long lost­ relatives. They have plenty of sheep out there too so­ plenty of girlfriends to go around.

    From Michael G, on Sat 18 Feb 20:19

  9. How decent of Dylan to do what all professionals do­ anyway. Another poor article.

    From traceyandsharon.agnew, on Sat 18 Feb 19:20

  10. Pat, are you still sitting in you gypo caravan , with­ that stolen laptop .

    From TERRY, on Sat 18 Feb 17:33

  11. Have u noticed,those who r most offensive can't­ spell! DOH!

    From Laine, on Sat 18 Feb 16:51

  12. David Peter, calm downdown luv1Time of the month?

    From Laine, on Sat 18 Feb 16:37

  13. New Zealand Refusinik!

    From CARLA, on Sat 18 Feb 16:26

  14. Dark Forces Controlling This Site ! Watch out Pop­ Pickers !

    From CARLA, on Sat 18 Feb 16:24

  15. LOL, what a saint. (no pun intended)

    From Icantsplel, on Sat 18 Feb 12:46
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    terry comment 11 you are still showing signs of mental­ illness get better soon

    From Pat, on Sat 18 Feb 9:17
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I would say to all those of a Welsh persuasion to vote­ against the likes of TERRY and his lovers or else you­ are allowing them to speak for you.

    From MATTHEW ROBINSON, on Sat 18 Feb 9:14
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    TERRY you're such an innocent thing but I fear­ you've used all your words up on me sweet pea, to­ no avail. You see lovely boy I have an aversion to your­ like and it's not a nationality thing at all, just­ you being a cretin. What else should anyone do other­ than fight against such gross stupidity as yours?

    From MATTHEW ROBINSON, on Sat 18 Feb 8:56
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    tracyandsharon, if it don't appear soon it­ ain't going to later. These boards are vetted in a­ bizarre way by a computer as you can see you can be­ abusive with any old bile but if you swear you need to­ hyph-enate it.

    From MATTHEW ROBINSON, on Sat 18 Feb 6:50
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    TERRY how are you doing sweet pea? I expect you and­ Howie will make a lovely couple but I'm not­ available to give you away as requested in your­ official marriage to Howie, bit of a bu-mmer eh? I­ would have loved to have seen that beautiful moment in­ front of everyone in the chapel when you shared your­ rings, next time maybe.

    From MATTHEW ROBINSON, on Sat 18 Feb 6:12
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