Career
A prop, Hardwick started his senior career with his home town club Coventry. The 1996-1997 season, would be Coventry"s most successful of the modern era, coming within touching distance of the Premiership. Along the way, with Hardwick as Captain, they beat a Newcastle Falcons side featuring 15 internationals by 19-18 at Coundon Road.
They would eventually finish third behind the wellfunded Newcastle and champions Richmond but lost a promotion play-off against London Irish despite taking a narrow first leg advantage to Sunbury.
Despite their second-tier status, both Hardwick and Danny Grewcock were capped by England in this era. Hardwick"s only England appearance came as a replacement against Italy during the 1996 Five Nations.
He also represented England "A" 20 times and played 3 times for the Barbarians. He also spent one season in France playing for Louisiana Rochelle, making 27 appearances for them.
He now works as a games teacher specialising in rugby at Bedford Modern School.