England rugby captain Dylan Hartley is, without beating around the bush, one of the most disliked rugby players in the game today.
Over the years he has amassed a truly shocking disciplinary record and has served so many suspensions at different points that he has missed over a year of his rugby career through being banned. As a result, there are not many sets of fans around who have not been outraged by his actions at one point or another, so sympathy for missing so much action will never be sent Hartley's way.
And he doesn't want it to be. In an interview with Clare Balding for BT Sport, that alarming statistic was brought to the attention of the live audience, and after giving a somewhat embarrassed reaction initially, Hartley revealed that he wouldn't change his record because it helped shape the man he is today.
There's a mixture of things there, not all that I'm proud of, there's some things [on the list] that I'd like to contest one day, but it's not the time or place to do it.
But I don't think I'd change it. It's not something I'm overly proud of carrying but I don't think I would be the competitor, the person I am - and I think you mature over time as well - and I wouldn't be sat here if those things hadn't happened to me.
Sorry, happened to you Dylan? Pretty sure a few lads woke up with headaches and cuts thanks to yourself that they wish didn't happen either.
Fair play to Clare Balding for not only asking a difficult question, but also in emphasising that Hartley was really, really bad for his lack of discipline.
His response is not likely to go down well with many rugby fans, but it was an honest response from the England captain, even if he showed absolutely zero remorse.
Hartley was speaking on the first episode of the new season of The Clare Balding Show on BT Sport which aired on Thursday night.
