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Rugby captain Dallaglio quits

But he has denied tabloid newspaper allegations that he took and dealt hard drugs.

The Rugby Football Union made the announcement at Twickenham after a three-hour meeting with the Wasps star at a secret location in London on Monday.

The 26-year-old told the RFU he would be withdrawing from the England squad to tour Australia this summer, in the wake of tabloid newspaper reports at the weekend.

Leicester lock forward and British Lions skipper Martin Johnson has been appointed England captain until the end of the Rugby World Cup this autumn.

Dallaglio "categorically denied" the principal claims in the News of the World that he had dealt in drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy.

In a statement he added that "the circumstances in which the supposed admissions were obtained amounted to an elaborate set-up".

But News of the World editor Phil Hall said: "We stand by our story.

"Lawrence Dallaglio is damned in his own words and frankly, we are amazed at his denial."

The RFU has launched an immediate investigation into the affair.

Any disciplinary action against Dallaglio would be considered only when the inquiry has been completed, RFU chairman Brian Baister said.

He added: "Lawrence's future with England will of course depend entirely on the findings of that investigation."

Dallaglio, who will be holding a news conference on Tuesday morning, has provided the authorities with blood and urine samples and the RFU announced that every member of the touring party would also be tested for drugs.

England coach Clive Woodward, who was among the panel of six senior RFU figures who met Dallaglio, said he was "bitterly disappointed" for the player and his family but was confident he would be "proved innocent" by the investigation.

Setback

Woodward admitted it was a "setback" for the team, but he has not ruled out the possibility of Dallaglio rejoining the tour.

"It's up to myself and senior members of the team to move things along," he said.

"I hope Lawrence rejoins the team very quickly. It would have been impossible for him to join the tour - he wanted to stay and get this sorted out."

Fran Cotton, manager of Team England who led the British Lions tour of South Africa in 1997, welcomed the appointment of Johnson as Dallaglio's successor.

"We are very fortunate to have someone like Martin to call on. As Lions manager he had my full confidence and he delivered on that confidence."

Sports minister Tony Banks supported Dallaglio over his decision to stand down: "These are serious allegations and the RFU are right to treat them seriously."

Relevant Stories

Broadsheets go to town over Dallaglio (25 May 99 | UK)
The Dallaglio inquisitors (24 May 99 | Rugby Union)
The RFU announcement (24 May 99 | Rugby Union)
'Shock' of rugby world (24 May 99 | UK)
Mutiny, expulsion and 'old farts' (24 May 99 | Rugby Union)
Johnson: A lion of a man (24 May 99 | Rugby Union)
Dallaglio's statement (24 May 99 | Rugby Union)
Press feels despair over Dallaglio (24 May 99 | UK)
Dallaglio: English rugby's rose (23 May 99 | Rugby Union)

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