Dylan Hartley: 'Like you ever won anything...'
What do you get up to away from rugby?I’m just like any other 22-year-old. I enjoy spending time with friends and family. And like everyone else, I like going out at the weekend and socialising but all in moderation.
You seem quite a relaxed bloke?I’ve got a pretty sweet job. I’m only young, so nothing really bothers me. I’m having a good time and here to do well.
So you’re not in any rush to finish off your student travels?Rugby's never something I intended on doing. After the first eight months at school in Sussex, I thought I might as well stay and grab a bit of life experience. When I was 16, I never really considered playing rugby apart from for my local club and the school 1st XV. But at the time, it seemed like the easiest line of work was being an academy player. They paid me a little bit and put a roof over my head, so it was an easy decision.
Better than bar work?Without doubt. I didn’t think of much apart from getting by and having a good time.
You work with a psychologist, would you say you’re a thinking player?You’ve got to be, especially at the forefront of the pack. You lead in the scrum and if the lineout goes wrong, it’s your fault, no matter who’s watching. It’s a lot of responsibility.
It’s hard to command any sort of respect or that bit of authority, especially being a young player coming into any team. So at scrum time when i’m in charge, I look around and there’s Simon Shaw, Phil Vickery, Andrew Sheridan and Steve Borthwick, who have done a thing or two.
Do you get a bit star struck?
I’ve been around for about four years now, but when I first started playing I was almost in that mindset of being a young kid having a good time overseas. Now I feel a lot more comfortable around the top players, because I play against them week in week out and I know i’m up there with them.
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