Prodigal son returns

Lawrence Dallaglio was officially back in the England fold yesterday, as if nothing had changed in his life in the past two months.

In normal circumstances, rugby players tend not to relish intensive fitness testing on hot summer afternoons but for the former England captain, the continuing subject of an investigation into News of the World allegations of drug-taking, being put through his paces in Strawberry Hill ranked among the most welcome experiences of his career.

In theory the long-distance runs, aerobic and gym tests undergone by 39 potential England World Cup squad members at St Mary's College were all about assessing those with long-term physical problems, namely Will Greenwood, Paul Grayson and Phil Vickery, with a view to weeding out any under-achievers.

In practice it turned into one big bonding session, with Dallaglio at its centre. The whole of England, not to mention the rugby world, is still awaiting the findings of the independent inquiry team headed by Sir John Kay QC; the team management, whether the Rugby Football Union like it or not, made up their minds ages ago.

Dallaglio, who withdrew from the captaincy and the recent tour of Australia on his own volition in May, politely declined an invitation to share any of his thoughts with the media and did nothing more controversial in the 20-minute "open" session than a little stretching.

Dressed in grey T-shirt and shorts, he strolled onto the field in the middle of the squad looking as fit as anyone, if not more so, leaving his PR agent Sara Pearson to state the obvious on his behalf. "He's delighted to be back doing the job he's best equipped to do. He's very fit, he's trained hard and is obviously thrilled to be here today," she confirmed. She added Dallaglio had received no clue about the likely contents of the inquiry panel's findings. Did he feel more optimistic? "Lawrence is not the sort of bloke to jump the gun," was the guarded reply.

Trappist monks would have proved more garrulous on the subject of Dallaglio than his fellow England squad members, all of whom have been given strict instructions not to discuss anything more sensational than where they spent their holidays. There is still a possibility of legal action in the case of separate allegations in the Mail on Sunday.

The tournament kicks off on October 1st and in between the English will warm-up with internationals against the United States on August 21st and Canada a week later, by which time Dallaglio will surely have learned his fate. The three-man inquiry team are scheduled to deliver their report to the RFU within the next fortnight and Twickenham will not wish to delay responding any longer than is necessary.