DALLAGLIO TACTICS NOT UNDERHAND SAYS PAPER

The News of the World yesterday launched a robust defence of the tactics it
used in the downfall of the former England rugby union captain, Lawrence
Dallaglio after claims that his drinks had been spiked.

Dallaglio is understood to have told friends that he fears his champagne was
drugged before he made "confessions" about his private life to undercover
reporters from the paper.

The Wasps flanker resigned his England captaincy last Monday after
allegations that he had taken drugs during a British Lions tour and slept
with prostitutes.

Speaking at a news conference last week, he strongly denied having been a
dealer but admitted experimenting with drugs as a teenager. He also admitted
to a "naive error in judgment", claiming he had fallen victim to an
"elaborate set-up" by the paper.

Dallaglio's claims that his champagne was spiked are shared by his
girlfriend and will be raised with the Rugby Football Union panel
investigating the affair.

The player's representatives are believed to have spoken to Sir John Hall,
who suspects that his son, Douglas, and Freddy Shepherd, then fellow
directors of Newcastle United, may also have had their drinks tampered with
during conversations with a News of the World reporter.

The pair were taped in Spain, criticising Newcastle women and boasting of
ripping off fans.

Sir John, the former Newcastle United chairman, has reportedly contacted
Dallaglio's adviser to compare notes on the undercover operations.

Yesterday, Phil Hall, the editor of the News of the World, dismissed
suggestions that the champagne had been drugged, describing the allegations
as "nonsense".

Mr Hall, who has passed videos of the player to the RFU, said: "I think Mr
Dallaglio's claims are absolutely wonderful and I look forward to refuting
them. Our investigation's entire operation was caught on video and you can
actually see the bottles of champagne being opened."

While the newspaper said it had used undercover means to get Dallaglio's
confession, it denied being "underhand".

It said: "This week the News of the World has been widely condemned for its
hard-hitting investigations. And today we hold up our hands and confess - we
are guilty.

"Guilty of carrying out legitimate investigations to expose real criminals,
drug dealers, perverts and paedophiles.

"The News of the World has a proud tradition of exposing drug dealers to rid
our society of a deadly menace. It was to this end that we arranged to set
up a lengthy meeting with Dallaglio."

Sara Pearson, Dallaglio's spokeswoman, said the player was concerned that
the champagne he drank was not opened in front of him.

She said: "The whole thing is so curious. Mr Dallaglio believes the
champagne had an unusual effect on him and it is a drink he is familiar
with. He is adamant that the effect the champagne had on him was different
to any he had had before."

Fuelling the debate yesterday, the Sunday Telegraph published an article
suggesting Alice Corbett, Dallaglio's girlfriend and mother of their two
children had also expressed concerns that his behaviour was
uncharacteristically "odd" following his meetings with the reporters at the
London Hilton and Conrad International hotels.

Dallaglio, 27, issued a fresh statement after the News of the World
published further details of the drug claims which forced him to resign.

The paper claims to have uncovered new evidence that Dallaglio dealt in
drugs at the age of 16. It also says that a couple have come forward,
claiming that they saw the player snorting cocaine.

Dallaglio responded by saying: "I totally stand by the statement I made
earlier this week. I have not taken drugs during my rugby career. I have
admitted experimenting with drugs in my youth - which I bitterly regret.

"However, I vigorously refute the suggestion that I have ever dealt in drugs."

On Wednesday, the Press Complaints Commission will discuss a complaint from
Buckingham Palace after the Sun published a topless photograph of Sophie
Rhys-Jones, leading to calls from the public and politicians for the
introduction of tough privacy laws.

In a poll published in yesterday's Observer newspaper, 77 per cent of people
questioned said they wanted the Government to get tough with tabloid newspapers.