Hartley’s in Lions battle by George

DYLAN HARTLEY has lost the chance of touring with the Lions once already – twice would smack of carelessness – but he is not banking on any favours from head coach Warren Gatland next week.

Gatland names his squad for the trip to New Zealand on Wednesday and it is a case of four into three for the No2 shirts.

Hartley is in a tussle with England teammate Jamie George, Wales’ Ken Owens and Ireland’s Rory Best for three hooking spots, while Scotland’s Fraser Brown is also in the mix.

Hartley was originally picked by Gatland for the tour to Australia four years ago but missed that trip when he was suspended for abusing referee Wayne Barnes in the Premiership final.

But if he misses out now it will be down to form – he made way for George in the second half of all of England’s Six Nations fixtures – and he is ready to accept his fate whatever it is.

“It is the ultimate privilege for any player from the British Isles,” said Hartley. “To go would be one hell of an experience I am sure, from what I have heard from previous tours. For the guys that do make the tour, it will be the trip of a lifetime.

“I am not counting my chickens and I am not getting my hopes up because in a week’s time it could all be taken away.

“If it happens, it is a bonus. If it doesn’t happen, I have other things I can focus on. For me, there are still things I want to do in an England shirt.

“There is unfinished business there with the development of the team and where that is going. To be part of that is, in terms of ambition, where I want to be. The Lions is just a bonus.”

Hartley will have one final crack at George when his Northampton side play Saracens on Sunday in a possible shoot-out for the last Lions hooking spot.

England coach Eddie Jones has always started with Hartley and had George come on as one of his fabled ‘finishers’ but the captain thinks he would struggle if the tables were turned.

Hartley said: “I have got a job to do in the team.

“I have had chats with Eddie and I know what he expects from me. I am sure Jamie has had conversations with the boss about what he wants to do. If it is my job coming off the bench then I will do that – I don’t know if I could make as good an impact as Jamie but it is all for the team.”

Hartley might not know his summer plans but Harlequins flanker Jack Clifford does and they are grim. He will undergo shoulder surgery shortly and be sidelined for 12 weeks, ruling him out of England’s tour to Argentina.

Clifford, captain of England’s Junior World Cup winners in 2013, has had the problem most of the

I am not getting my hopes up