Dylan Hartley kept awake at night over omission from England’s World Cup squad
Former England captain Dylan Hartley admits his omission from Eddie Jones’ World Cup squad remains causing him to have sleepless nights.
The Northampton hooker was left from England squad to the championship, having neglected to overcome.
Hartley, who has 97 caps for England, it’s still coming to terms with being denied the opportunity to do so, and had hoped to bow from international rugby in a high in Japan.
“When the World Cup group has been announcedit was like I’d died – friends getting in touch and seeing whether I was OK,” Hartley said.
“Ultimately, the way I looked at my entire Xmas career and the way I needed it to flake out, and the way it was goingwas that this might have been the ultimate send-off, the dream end to an global career.
“The reality is you pick up an injury.
“For 3 years we’ve talked about winning the World Cup together with Eddie, and I have headed that team, been a part of the journey, so to fall at the final hurdle… I do not understand the feeling.
“I wake up most nights thinking about it. It doesn’t sit well with me personally, but I have come to terms with it. You have to crack .”
Hartley believes England have an excellent probability of being the group that his omission to manage, and that lifts the Webb Ellis Cup at Yokohama City on November 2.
“I genuinely believe England (will win), they have got as good a opportunity to go and get it done,” he explained.
“The worst thing for me is to believe if my leg wasn’t [injured] at the moment I might be there with them, winning a World Cup. It’s tough to swallow.
“I hope they win and go. I will get on and be a wonder supporter – recall me guys?
“I’ll be hanging off the face of the open-top bus, in my 97th (look ) shirt”
As representing club side Northampton at a Gallagher Premiership clash with Worcester nearly nine months ago hartley has not featured at any given degree of rugby.
The 33-year-old admits he aggravated his knee injury by trying to rush back for the World Cup.
“I attempted an (first ) strategy along with my knee, a very aggressive approach, since I was given a few deadlines to meet, and the competitive approach did not get the job done,” said Hartley.
“I basically ended up at a worse place for trying to return too early. Ever since that happened, I knew I wasn’t likely to make the (World Cup) deadline.
“It was around the beginning of the camps, even when they first got together around the start of July. I tried getting back for this and essentially put myself at a bit of a hole physically and mentally.”
Hartley spent a fortnight working with strength and conditioning specialist Bill Knowles, whose clients include Andy Murray, also feels that treatment was advantageous.
“Everybody asks when you’re coming back but I have learned that you do not put a time period on it, because when you are 10 days from it and you know you are nowhere close, you are able to play these games in mind and it’s hard,” Hartley added.
“In the moment, I’m building my tolerance to have the ability to run daily and engage daily.”
