Dylan Hartley proud to wear the white

Via the Worcester academy, he has made his reputation as the Saints hooker and now ardent Englishman.

“I get asked about England trying to do what the Al Blacks do with the shirt,” he said.

“That really annoys me. Because they are New Zealand and you see the strong association with the shirt, it doesn’t mean players from every other country in the world don’t have exactly the same pride.

“A lot is made about the black shirt. What I think is really good about what we’ve been doing in the last few weeks is to make ours a shirt you give another 10 per cent for. It’s always been special but we are not afraid to talk about it. Our shirt is white and has a rose on it and we are proud of that.”

Disciplinary problems, ever since a long suspension for eye-gouging put back his England debut from 2007 to 2008, have punctuated Hartley’s career – all the way through to this season after his dismissal in last May’s Premiership final.

“I have this feeling of déjà vu. I’ve said before that I’ve matured, but then I got banned in the summer,” he said.

“So let’s say I am ever-maturing, that I understand the game a bit better.

“Fifty for me is just a number. I’m more pleased to be selected to play a big Test, the final one in this series that gives me the chance to make an impression so that come the Six Nations I am at the front of the coaches’ mind.”

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/24937402

Dylan Hartley proud to wear the white