Northampton Saints chairman Tony Hewitt has congratulated Dylan Hartley and the England squad on winning the 2016 Six Nations.
On Saturday Hartley lifted the Triple Crown silverware after leading England to victory against Wales. But Sunday’s win by Scotland over France confirmed England’s champion status, and the national captain will be handed the Six Nations trophy next weekend, regardless of the result at the Stade de France.
“We’re delighted for Dylan,” said Hewitt. “We knew before the tournament that he had the right temperament and attitude to be a successful national captain, and so it has proved with England winning all their games to record their first Six Nations title since 2011.
“We’re also proud for Courtney Lawes, Paul Hill and Kieran Brookes, who have all seen action in the Championship so far.
“However while the Six Nations has been won there is still the Grand Slam to play for in Paris, and we know that Dylan will have the squad fully focused this week on working hard to maintain their winning run.”
Brookes came off the bench at Twickenham on Saturday to record his first England cap since arriving at Franklin’s Gardens. And while there would be overall disappointment for George North and his Wales team mates the winger did have the consolation of scoring his third try of the Championship and maintaining his on-going impressive form.
At age group level Alex Moon won his first England Under-20 cap in the 16-42 loss to Wales at Bristol’s Ashton Gate, and Rory Hutchinson’s Scotland Under-20 team could not match their senior counterparts, going down 21-36 to France in Glasgow.
But there was success at Under-18 level for England on Sunday, with fly half James Grayson (Moulton College) coming off the bench to land the last-minute drop goal to beat Wales 27-26. Props Ehren Painter (Felsted School) and Devante Onojaife (Stowe School) were also in the squad that came home from Port Talbot with the dramatic win under their belt.
