DALLAGLIO GIVES UP ENGLAND CAPTAINCY

Disgraced Rugby Player Apologises For Embarrassment But Denies Newspaper's
Drug Allegations

LAWRENCE Dallaglio resigned as captain of the English rugby team last
night, after allegations that he had taken drugs during a British Lions
tour and had indulged in sex with groups of prostitutes.

But the Wasps flanker strongly denied having ever dealt in or taken illegal
substances. He admitted only to a "naive error in judgment" and claimed he
had fallen victim to an "elaborate set-up" by the News of the World.

The Rugby Football Union, which governs the game in England, announced last
night that it was investigating the paper's claims and said that Dallaglio
would face severe consequences if found guilty.

However, in an indication that the RFU stands behind the highly respected
player, Clive Woodward, the England coach, said he believed Dallaglio's
denial of the allegations. "I believe he is innocent," he said at the RFU's
headquarters in Twickenham, west London.

Dallaglio, 26, was interviewed for three hours yesterday by a panel of five
senior RFU officials, including Brian Baister, the chairman of the union's
management board, and Francis Baron, the chief executive.

At the meeting, it was made clear to him that he could not continue as the
England captain for the forthcoming tour of Australia and this autumn's
Rugby World Cup. He has been replaced by the Leicester Tigers' lock, Martin
Johnson.

Dallaglio denied that he had used drugs at any time during his rugby
career. He also insisted that, contrary to the newspaper reports, he did
not know of any other member of the British Lions' team who had used drugs
during the 1997 tour of South Africa.

"The circumstances in which the supposed admissions were obtained amounted
to an elaborate set-up by the writers of the News of the World article (by
their own admission) to which I naively fell victim."

Dallaglio admitted that, in a meeting with two undercover reporters at a
London hotel, he had said some of the things that had been attributed to
him. However, he indicated that he had "played along" with the reporters'
line of questioning.

"An atmosphere was created in which they gave the impression that they were
well versed in matters pertaining the use of illegal drugs and that they
would be impressed if I were to play along with it, disappointed if I did
not."

The player said that many "qualifying remarks" which he claims to have made
during the meeting had not been printed. He had, for example, turned down
the opportunity to take drugs at the encounter.

"By pandering to the whims of these people, I appreciate that I made an
error in judgment which stems from naivety and foolishness on my part. In
hindsight, it appears that the entire basis of the meeting and most, if not
all, of what was supposed to have been said in it was complete fabrication
by all concerned."

Dallaglio repeated his view that the use of any illegal drugs in sport was
wrong. Apologising for the embarrassment that the episode had caused his
family and the game, he added that, of the many random drugs tests he had
undergone in his career, all had proved negative.

He is said to have been "devastated and shocked" by the allegations in the
paper. At yesterday's meeting with the RFU officials, however, he did not
indicate any intention to sue.

The player has provided the RFU with blood and urine samples. All other
players on the Australia tour will be tested for drugs. Rugby officials
repeated their strong opposition to the use of drugs in any sport.

The investigation into Dallaglio's conduct is expected to take some time.
The News of the World has provided rugby officials with four hours of video
and audio tape. It is expected that the panel which will lead the inquiry
will include a senior lawyer as well as officials from the sport, but the
RFU said that it was not in a position to name the inquiry team members.

Woodward, who is known to be close to the former England captain, said he
hoped that the allegations would be proved unfounded. He said of Dallaglio:
"He has my full support in his efforts to clear his name."

Bill Beaumont, a former England captain and the chairman of the national
playing committee, said he was saddened by the allegations. "I am
disappointed that someone should lose the captaincy for something which
happened off the field rather than on the field. It is always disappointing
to read about the game on the front of the newspaper rather than on the
back of it."

The News of the World said that it stood by its story. The paper's editor,
Phil Hall, defended the technique of sending two reporters posing as
executives with the cosmetics firm Gillette, as part of the operation to
trap Dallaglio.

The player's admissions had been obtained fairly, he said. "It was a
complete and unheralded confession. Every quote in there was on tape. There
were four hours of tape and they are in context, and I am sure that the
Rugby Union people will let you know that in time."

The sports minister Tony Banks backed Dallaglio's decision to resign. Mr
Banks said: "These are serious allegations and the RFU is right to treat
them seriously.

"Lawrence Dallaglio has given great service to the sport of rugby union,
and his country, and his responsible decision to step down as England
captain in the current circumstances is to be applauded.

"I hope the current controversy can be resolved as soonas possible, to the
benefitof Lawrence, rugby union,and sport in this country in general."