"Can I firstly tender our apologies for the lateness of the hour in reaching this juncture of the proceedings but we have had to cover a lot of ground today in a very short period of time.

"We have also logistically had to travel a lot of miles today in order to carry out our inquiries and come here for the press conference so I am afraid a delay was inevitable.

"As a result of our inquiries today, gentlemen, the RFU has announced today that it has concluded a three-hour meeting with the England captain Lawrence Dallaglio at which he answered questions relating to a number of allegations made in an article in the News of the World dated 23 May 1999.

"He gave a full and frank response to questions regarding the circumstances surrounding the story issued by the News of the World.

"The RFU reiterated its stance and the fact that they had no place in Rugby Union or any other sport. England players will continue to be tested as part of the RFU's on-going drugs testing programme which includes pre-tour checks for the visit to Australia and all future tours.

"Lawrence Dallaglio frankly answered all the questions put to him by the representatives of the RFU and categorically denied the principal allegations made in the News of the World.

"Three decisions were made during the course of the meeting. Lawrence Dallaglio advised the RFU that he was withdrawing from the captaincy and the squad to tour Australia of his own volition.

"The RFU agreed that this was the right course of action and has accepted his decision and the reasons behind it. Lawrence Dallaglio will be replaced as captain by the Leicester Tigers' lock Martin Johnson until the conclusion of the Rugby World Cup in 1999.

"The RFU has also decided that because of the seriousness of the allegations it is setting up a panel to investigate both the allegations and the circumstances surrounding them.