Dallaglio stands totally firm

The former England skipper Lawrence Dallaglio has defended himself against fresh drug allegations in the News of the World.

Dallaglio, who resigned the captaincy and withdrew from the England squad to tour Australia, said in a statement: "I totally stand by the statement I made earlier this week.

"I have not taken drugs during my rugby career. I have admitted experimenting with drugs in my youth - which I bitterly regret - however I vigorously refute the suggestion that I have ever dealt in drugs.

"My future lies in the hands of the RFU investigating body and I shall be co-operating fully with them. I very much look forward to resuming my career."

England coach Clive Woodward has stood by his ex-captain, despite calling him "a complete prat and foolish" during the last traumatic week.

Also standing by Dallaglio is the new chairman of Team England, Fran Cotton, a former captain himself and the manager of the Lions on their tour of South Africa in 1997.

However, as Dallaglio admits, his future will be decided by people less close to him on the emergency RFU panel. Bob Rogers is a lawyer, and Alan Stevens, a council member for Devon, is a retired detective superintendent. The independent chairman is Sir John Kay, a judge in the High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division.

They are to decide whether Dallaglio, a key component in Woodward's World Cup plans, will rejoin the squad.

But the possibility of a ban from rugby remains. His own Wasps manager Nigel Melville said "he has probably brought the game into disrepute". If the panel agree with Melville, the RFU could impose a suspension.