Dylan Hartley pens new Northampton Saints deal and is reappointed captain

Dylan Hartley of Northampton Saints during the Aviva Premiership match between Northampton Saints and Wasps at Franklin's Gardens on March 27, 2015
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Northampton Saints announce that England captain Dylan Hartley has signed a new contract with the Premiership side and has been reappointed as their skipper.

England captain Dylan Hartley has signed a new contract with Northampton Saints and has been reappointed as the Premiership side's skipper.

The 31-year-old, capped 86 times by his country, was replaced by Lee Dickson as club captain in 2015, having previously held the role for seven years.

Hartley, whose old deal had been due to expire at the end of the 2017-18 season, has made 229 appearances for Saints since joining them from Worcester Warriors in 2006.

In addition to his success with Saints, the hooker has led England to successive Six Nations titles under head coach Eddie Jones.

"Dylan has rightly received recognition as a superb captain for club and country," Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder told BBC Sport.

"He led the team during a very successful period for us, has the respect of the rest of the squad and coaches alike, and knows what it takes to win silverware."

Last season, fellow England international Tom Wood skippered the side as Saints finished seventh in England's top flight.

Northampton captain Dylan Hartley is shown the red card and sent off by referee JP Doyle during the Aviva Premiership match against Leicester on December 20, 2014
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