Dylan Hartley: Northampton captain grateful for another chance By Graham McKechnie BBC Radio Northampton sports editor Northampton captain Dylan Hartley says he wants to repay the faith coaches of club and country have shown in him.
The 27-year-old was sent off in the Premiership final and banned, missing the British & Irish Lions tour.
Hartley told BBC Radio Northampton: "I'm extremely thankful for the chances I've had with various coaches.
Analysis 
Ian Hunter Former Saints and England full-back & BBC Radio Northampton summariser There's no doubt Dylan is a fantastic player. There's also no doubt he's a great leader off the field and has a huge amount of respect among the players there.
I don't think anyone will have suffered more than Dylan. He's got to live with it - and missing a Lions series is punishment enough, especially after a series win.
We have to bear in mind his contribution all season, not just focus on a single act in last season's Premiership final.
"With Stuart Lancaster and Graham Rowntree at England, and Jim Mallinder here, there are loyal people sticking with me. I can't let them down."
In May's final, Hartley was already on a warning for arguing with Premiership final referee Wayne Barnes when he was shown a red card for offensive language and, according to the official, calling him a "cheat".
And Hartley knows there will be no further chances. He added: "Especially with Stuart, if there's anything else, it's the end of the road for me with England.
"I understand it can't be blind faith. I let Saints down because I wasn't there when they needed me.
"That will always hang over me. If we'd had 15 men on the field, we would've won that final."
Hartley, who has made 171 first-team appearances and won 47 England caps, says he considered resigning the captaincy at Franklin's Gardens.
He said: "There was a stage when I sat down with Jim and said, 'do people want to see a change in captain?'
"I had it clear in my head that I'd probably step down. I'd still be a good player, I'd still contribute but I didn't want that hanging over the new-look Saints, because this year we have a squad that can contend.
"[But] Jim and the coaching team have picked me."
Hartley says no-one is hurting more than him as a result of the red card and ban.
Analysis Ian Hunter Former Saints and England full-back & BBC Radio Northampton summariser There's no doubt Dylan is a fantastic player. There's also no doubt he's a great leader off the field and has a huge amount of respect among the players there.
I don't think anyone will have suffered more than Dylan. He's got to live with it - and missing a Lions series is punishment enough, especially after a series win.
We have to bear in mind his contribution all season, not just focus on a single act in last season's Premiership final.
"With Stuart Lancaster and Graham Rowntree at England, and Jim Mallinder here, there are loyal people sticking with me. I can't let them down."
In May's final, Hartley was already on a warning for arguing with Premiership final referee Wayne Barnes when he was shown a red card for offensive language and, according to the official, calling him a "cheat".
And Hartley knows there will be no further chances. He added: "Especially with Stuart, if there's anything else, it's the end of the road for me with England.
"I understand it can't be blind faith. I let Saints down because I wasn't there when they needed me.
"That will always hang over me. If we'd had 15 men on the field, we would've won that final."
Hartley, who has made 171 first-team appearances and won 47 England caps, says he considered resigning the captaincy at Franklin's Gardens.
He said: "There was a stage when I sat down with Jim and said, 'do people want to see a change in captain?'
"I had it clear in my head that I'd probably step down. I'd still be a good player, I'd still contribute but I didn't want that hanging over the new-look Saints, because this year we have a squad that can contend.
"[But] Jim and the coaching team have picked me."
Hartley says no-one is hurting more than him as a result of the red card and ban.
Ian Hunter Former Saints and England full-back & BBC Radio Northampton summariser There's no doubt Dylan is a fantastic player. There's also no doubt he's a great leader off the field and has a huge amount of respect among the players there.
I don't think anyone will have suffered more than Dylan. He's got to live with it - and missing a Lions series is punishment enough, especially after a series win.
We have to bear in mind his contribution all season, not just focus on a single act in last season's Premiership final.
"With Stuart Lancaster and Graham Rowntree at England, and Jim Mallinder here, there are loyal people sticking with me. I can't let them down."
In May's final, Hartley was already on a warning for arguing with Premiership final referee Wayne Barnes when he was shown a red card for offensive language and, according to the official, calling him a "cheat".
And Hartley knows there will be no further chances. He added: "Especially with Stuart, if there's anything else, it's the end of the road for me with England.
"I understand it can't be blind faith. I let Saints down because I wasn't there when they needed me.
"That will always hang over me. If we'd had 15 men on the field, we would've won that final."
Hartley, who has made 171 first-team appearances and won 47 England caps, says he considered resigning the captaincy at Franklin's Gardens.
He said: "There was a stage when I sat down with Jim and said, 'do people want to see a change in captain?'
"I had it clear in my head that I'd probably step down. I'd still be a good player, I'd still contribute but I didn't want that hanging over the new-look Saints, because this year we have a squad that can contend.
"[But] Jim and the coaching team have picked me."
Hartley says no-one is hurting more than him as a result of the red card and ban.