Monday 5 June 2017 09:28, UK
Dylan Hartley insists that his omission from the British and Irish Lions' tour to New Zealand will not define his career and has not caused him to lose sleep.
The England captain, who will lead the Six Nations champions on a two-test tour of Argentina, missed out on selection in Warren Gatland's 41-man squad to face the All Blacks.
Wales' Ken Owens, Ireland captain Rory Best and England's back-up to Hartley, Jamie George were preferred to the Northampton hooker, who doesn't hold any animosity towards the decision.
"It doesn't define me as a player not going on that tour," Hartley told Sky Sports. "I said that before the tour. I have had that many ups and downs that it's something out of my control so I am not going to worry about it. Why lose sleep about it?"
Hartley is fully focused on his job within the England set-up and is determined to use his standing as captain to enable the world No 2 side to progress in the lead up to the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
"I have got a good thing here," he said. "My role within this team is huge and I like that responsibility - I want to grow the team and I want to push the team forward and make England rugby better."
The Lions, who began their six-week tour of New Zealand with an uninspiring 13-7 victory over the Provincial Barbarians, are looking to earn a series victory over the All Blacks for only the second time in their history following their sole triumph in 1971.
Hartley was selected for the 2013 Lions tour to Australia but didn't travel after receiving an 11-week ban for verbally abusing a match official playing for Northampton in the end-of-season Aviva Premiership final.
This time around Hartley failed to make Gatland's squad, despite helping England lift the Six Nations title for the second successive year.
"Selection for me is subjective," he said. "Warren has chosen the side that he thinks he can go and beat New Zealand with.
"Every player on that tour has earned the right to be there with their form and the way they have played. Obviously, I didn't do enough or I am not the player he wants in his side. I know I am appreciated here so I want to get fully stuck into that."
