Dylan Hartley’s memoir goes to Viking

Former England rugby union captain Dylan Hartley’s autobiography will be published by Viking in May.

UK and Commonwealth rights were bought by Michael McLoughlin, acquiring editor for Viking, from Ryan Shahin at YMU Group.

"In The Hurt, written with Michael Calvin, Hartley tells the story of his life and the sport he fell in love with as a boy in rural New Zealand: a story of hard men and harsh truths," Viking said. "Aged 16, Hartley travelled alone from New Zealand to England to build a life and career. He has survived old-school brawls, led a loyal club career, and thrived in the high-pressure, high-performance culture created by [England coach] Eddie Jones."

Hartley said: "I’m really excited to have the opportunity to tell my story and to talk about the sport I love. Since retiring, I have been able to look back at my rugby journey and the sport as a whole, and there is a lot I would like to say and share with my fans—from my early influences, to the lessons I’ve learnt and the current state of the game. I hope they enjoy it."

McLoughlin said: "It is a privilege to publish Dylan Hartley’s autobiography. One of England's most successful rugby captains, nobody has ever been in any doubt about Dylan’s commitment to his job, whether leading Northampton Saints and England, or scrummaging down as one of the most feared front-row practitioners in the game. He gave the game his all, and in this book readers will read about the toll that exacted on him. This is a page-turning read that rugby fans will be talking about for a long time."