When Banter Turned Into a Chase: Why Joe Hart Once Told Declan Rice He Wanted to ‘Hurt’ Him
During his time at West Ham, former England goalkeeper Joe Hart once admitted to feeling so riled by a young Declan Rice taunt that he chased him “around the whole stadium” after telling him he wanted to hurt him — all in good (if fiery) competitive spirit.
The story was shared by Mark Noble, the ex-West Ham captain, on The FozCast podcast. According to Noble, a 19-year-old Rice had just scored past Hart in a shooting drill. He cheekily shouted: “Harty, one day, son.” Hart replied with a warning: “Dec, if you say that again, I’m going to beat you up.” (m.allfootballapp.com)
But Rice was unbowed. After missing a shot, he struck again — this time scoring, and repeated his taunt. That was apparently the final straw. Hart reportedly left his goal, sprinted after Rice, chased him through the tunnels of the London Stadium, caught up with him, and “beat him up.” (Celtic news now)
So, why did Hart say he wanted to “hurt” Rice? While the phrase sounds aggressive, the context suggests it wasn’t a serious threat — more an expression of his competitive fire and frustration. According to Noble’s retelling, Hart was acting like many passionate athletes do: stung by a young teammate’s bravado and determined to put him in his place. (BenchWarmers)
But beyond the banter and the chase, there’s respect. Declan Rice himself has publicly praised Hart, calling him “one of the best guys I’ve ever met in football,” and saying Hart took him under his wing during his early days at West Ham. (whufc.com) Their relationship, though it had its moments, was built on mentorship and camaraderie as much as competition.
Ultimately, the incident is remembered not as a serious confrontation, but as one of those hilarious — if slightly wild — locker-room moments that show how intensely players feel even in training. Hart wasn’t out to cause real harm — he was defending his pride, sending a message, and perhaps bonding in his own way with a rising star.
If you like, I can dig into more stories of intense training ground rivalries between players — do you want me to do that?
