By Chris Foy for the Daily Mail
Published: 22:00 BST, 30 April 2019 | Updated: 22:02 BST, 30 April 2019
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Dylan Hartley is on course to make a comeback for Northampton before the end of the season — and his club are convinced he can reclaim a leadership role for England at the World Cup in Japan.
The 32-year-old hooker has not played this year and is in the final stages of his recovery from a knee injury which required clean-out surgery.
Having shared the Test captaincy with Owen Farrell during the autumn campaign at Twickenham last year, he had to watch the Saracens fly-half take charge during the Six Nations.
Dylan Hartley has not played this year and is in the final stages of his recovery from knee injury
However, Hartley is close to playing again and Northampton's director of rugby, Chris Boyd, on Tuesday insisted that it was far too soon to write him off as an international skipper.
'Dylan is a natural leader of men,' said the New Zealander. 'I would be extremely surprised if he were involved in an England team and not have some leadership role. That is part of what he brings.
'He has played 96 or 97 times for England. Despite the fact that he has a bit of Kiwi in him, England is his home and the (Red) Rose is really important to him. Anybody who thinks that he is not totally committed and determined to try and force his way back
