Dylan Hartley feared for England role after ‘technical flaw’

Dylan Hartley feared he had jeopardised his England captaincy after receiving a third red card of his career that he views as a “sobering” reality check.

Hartley was confirmed as skipper at the launch of the RBS 6 Nations yesterday and attended the event in south London alongside a bruised Eddie Jones, whose left eye was wounded during a fall.

Northampton hooker Hartley was sent off for striking Sean O’Brien during a Champions Cup defeat by Leinster on December 3, an offence that resulted in a six-week suspension which only ended on Monday.