Lawrence Dallaglio last night jumped before he was pushed by resigning from the England captaincy and pulling out of the tour to Australia. The 26-year-old Wasps flanker, who has captained England for the last 18 months, will be succeeded by Leicester's Martin Johnson despite strongly denying allegations made in the News of the World that he dealt and used drugs.
Johnson will now lead England into the World Cup this autumn, although Dallaglio has not been ruled out of the squad for the tournament.
Dallaglio claimed the allegations "amounted to an elaborate set-up" but admitted he made "an error of judgement which stems from naivety and foolishness".
The allegations will be investigated by an English Rugby Football Union panel, with the newspaper concerned being asked for full co-operation before any disciplinary action is considered. The penalty for a proven first case for using illegal drugs is a two-year-ban.
English RFU president Peter Trunkfield, chairman Brian Baister, chief executive Francis Baron, International Rugby Board representative Bill Beaumont, Club England chairman Frank Cotton and England coach Clive Woodward sat in judgement on Dallaglio at the Union's youth headquarters at Castlecroft, Wolverhampton, yesterday.
And at a press conference at Twickenham last night, Baister read out a statement which said: "Lawrence Dallaglio advised the RFU that he was withdrawing the captaincy and from 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. Lawrence Dallaglio will be replaced as captain by the Leicester Tigers lock Martin Johnson until the conclusion of the Rugby World Cup.
"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. The RFU has approached the News of the World for its full co-operation on this matter and any disciplinary action will be considered only when the RFU is in receipt of the inquiry findings."
Dallaglio appears to have retained the full support of Woodward, who has had his World Cup plans badly disrupted. The England coach still hopes his former captain can join England in Australia where they have a month's pre-World Cup training, ending with a Test in late June.
"He had a full discussion with me and other officials," said Woodward. "He is not trying to hide anything. Personally and privately I believe that he is innocent of the accusations. He will give his evidence tomorrow. I would like to think that he will be there in Australia. He retains my full support. Of course he is devastated and shocked as we all are.
"It's a setback to England, but it's up to me as coach to make sure that we move forward quickly. But he said that it was impossible for him to join the tour when we leave on Wednesday. It would be ridiculous."
Dallaglio's case was also considered by a solicitor who interviewed him and his agent Ashley Woolfe.
Dallaglio submitted to blood and urine tests yesterday and all the remaining 35 players going on tour will need to go through similar tests.
But a huge question mark remains over Dallaglio's future, despite his flat denials of his alleged own words in the newspaper.
One of the quotes refers to the British Lions' triumphant tour of South Africa two years ago. But the then Lions manager Fran Cotton, who is about to become chairman of Team England, said: "The allegations are the antithesis of what that tour was all about and I have been given categoric assurances that they are unfounded."
News of the World editor Phil Hall last night issued a brief statement, saying: "We stand by our story. Lawrence Dallaglio is damned in his own words and frankly, we are amazed at his denial."
