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Dallaglio steps down as captain despite denying drugs claims

by Terry Cooper
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 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 showpiece tournament.
Dallaglio claimed last night 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 a 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.
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 had sat in judgement on Dallaglio at the Union's youth headquarters at Castlecroft, Wolverhampton.
At a press conference at Twickenham, 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 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.
"The RFU has approached the News of the World for its cooperation on this matter and any disciplinary action will be considered only when the RFU is in receipt of the enquiry 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 retains my full support. It's a setback to England, but it's up to me as coach to make sure that we move forward quickly."
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 categorical assurances that they are unfounded."
However, in these circumstances England are fortunate to have someone like Johnson to take over as captain. He captained the Lions in 1997 and this month led Leicester to the Premiership title.
''I always said if I got the chance it would be great to captain England but it's very difficult,'' he said tonight. ''It's not the circumstances you want but I think we have just got to wait for the dust to clear and see what happens.''
Beaumont, former England captain and chairman of the RFU national playing committee, said: "It's disappointing to read about rugby on the front pages instead of on the back pages. The English game has never been associated with a drugs scandal."

Moya battles back from brink of defeat

SPANIARDS Carlos Moya and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario successfully opened the defences of their French Open titles yesterday – but in very different fashions.
While Sanchez beat powerful Croat Mirjana Lucic 6-2 6-2 at a canter, defending men's champion Moya was made to fight back from two sets down to get past Austrian wild card entry Markus Hipfl.
World number one and top seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov regained a little of his shattered confidence on the Suzanne Lenglen Court with a tough four-set win over another former Roland Garros champion Michael Chang.
Women's world number one and top seed Martina Hingis has never been accused of lacking confidence and she routinely dispatched Dutch player Amanda Hopmans 6-1 6-4.
She next faces Amelie Mauresmo, the powerful French teenager she beat in the Australian Open final.
The Williams sisters Venus and Serena rolled up and did not disappoint. Venus, the elder of the two at 18, barely blinked as she beat France's Alexandra Fusai 6-1 6-1.
Fusai lost to eventual champions Iva Majoli in 1997 and Sanchez Vicario in 1998 so the omens could be good for the fifth-seeded, beaded star.
Certainly Williams does not envisage any problems advancing. When asked if she felt she may have any trouble in the next round against doubles specialist Natasha Zvereva, Williams said: "No. I don't anticipate such a happening..." Serena, seeded 10th, also went through without too much bother, beating Belgian Laurence Courtois 6-4 6-0.
Fourth seed Moya's opponent Hipfl, ranked 85 in the world, made his first appearance at Roland Garros a memorable one when he jumped to a two-set lead on an overcast centre court.
But he was unable to hold his nerve, falling 3-6 1-6 6-4 6-2 6-4 in just under three hours.
Moya, who has not won a singles title since lifting the trophy last year, looked set to make an early exit.
But with the vocal backing of the opening day crowd, the Spaniard dug deep into his reserves and started his comeback by breaking Hipfl's serve at the start of the third set.
Moya, who briefly held the number one ranking earlier this year, grew in confidence as his opponent grew more desperate.
He finally broke the 21-year-old Austrian's resolve with a decisive break to go 3-2 up in the fifth set and then held his next three serves for the match.
"The way I was playing... I didn't see any way of escaping (defeat) in this match," he said afterwards. "But I just kept fighting and prayed."
It was a nervy Kafelnikov who blew a host of match points before finally overcoming Chang 6-2 5-7 6-0 7-6.
The Russian, champion in 1996, had started the match showing the sort of form that brought him the Australian Open title at the start of the year, smashing winners at will to sew up the opening set 6-2.
Chang, who was the youngest champion in Paris when he won the title in 1989 aged just 17, rallied to take the second 7-5 but the effort clearly took its toll and the American could do nothing to stop Kafelnikov storming the third 6-0.
Kafelnikov moved into a comfortable lead in the fourth, leading 4-1 at one point, before he allowed the tenacious American back into the match and wasted four match points before finally clinching a well-received victory 10-8 in a tiebreak.
Another victory popular with the Parisian crowd was that of 14th seed Andre Agassi. The Las Vegan beat in-form Argentine clay specialist Franco Squillari 3-6 7-5 7-5 6-3.
Britain's Tim Henman broke his French Open duck at the fourth time of asking by beating Morocco's Karim Alami 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-3 6-4.
He was joined in the second round by 12th-seeded compatriot Greg Rusedski. The Canadian-born left-hander, usually ill-at-ease on the slow surface, snatched a fine 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-4 win over German David Prinosil.
Another Moroccan, Paris-based Hicham Arazi, was the first to dispatch a seed when he beat the fading Goran Ivanisevic, seeded 15th, 6-4 1-6 6-3 6-1. It was the third year in a row that Ivanisevic has failed to win a match at Roland Garros.

Tiger takes off with £800,000 in the tank after German victory

by Phil Casey
TIGER WOODS left Germany with £800,000 of the sponsor's money - but he will be more than welcome back again next year.
The 23-year-old American superstar justified the hype - and his reported appearance fee of over £600,000 - at St Leon-Rot as he claimed his second European Tour title at the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open TPC of Europe.
The former Masters champion fired a third successive round of 68, four under par, to hold off a spirited challenge from South African Retief Goosen and Zimbabwe's Nick Price to give the sell-out crowd the result they had flocked to see.
His total of 273, 15 under par, gave him the £200,000 first prize and moved him back to number two in the world rankings behind David Duval.
Goosen finished three behind on 12 under after a closing 66 while Price, the 1994 Open champion, fired a brilliant 65 to equal the course record he set only 24 hours earlier.
''The key was staying very patient,'' said Woods, who only had three bogeys all week. ''The scores weren't going to be as low as people thought they were but I played well the entire week and got better as it went on.
''I've been changing my game over the last couple of years and it's nice to see it coming together and be able to do the things we've been working on under the gun when you have to.''
Woods, whose other victory this year came at the Buick Invitational in February, was making his debut in an event in continental Europe but made it clear he would like to travel more in future.
''There's no doubt about it,'' he added. ''I would like to play more overseas. I'm young, my body will let me do it and I enjoy visiting new places and cultures and experiencing things I never have before. I'm only 23.
''I'd like to defend my title next year and I hope it doesn't clash with another tournament.''
Whether Woods does return, and whether he is paid again to do so, is not certain but he felt no one had been short-changed with a field containing six of the world's top 10.
''I think the tournament got what they wanted,'' Woods added before heading straight for the airport.
Darren Clarke was encouraged by his joint seventh place finish after a closing 69 that would have been a lot better but for a triple bogey seven on the 12th, while Colin Montgomerie could only manage a closing 73 and Nick Faldo ended up 73rd of the 78 to make the cut after a last-round 79.
Peter Baker and Brian Davis can be proud of their efforts playing in the final group with Woods who commanded nearly all of the gallery's attention.
Baker finished fourth after a final round 71 with Davis a shot further back in joint fifth with Ernie Els after a 72.
Price made a valiant effort but had left himself too much to do after only surviving the cut right on the three over par limit.
But he took great heart from his two closing 65s, adding: ''This has given me a lot of hope. It's my best spell of putting for as long I can remember.
''I felt the bogey I made on the 15th really hurt me. I felt if I could get to 13 under I had a chance but I didn't hit a good tee shot and then Tiger's birdie on the same hole was the killer.''
Goosen, who won the French Open in Bordeaux earlier this month, said: ''I didn't play nearly as well as I did in Bordeaux but I putted really well and that was the difference.''

Iron Mike walks free as
parole board cuts jail term

FORMER world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson was released from jail last night after serving three-and-a-half months of a one-year assault sentence.
He walked free, hours after a judge's decision to end his probation for a 1992 rape conviction was announced yesterday.
Superior Court Judge Patricia Gifford approved Tyson's release from Rockville jail, according to the judge's clerk.
Tyson had pleaded no contest to assault charges stemming from a minor traffic accident in suburban Gaithersburg, Maryland. He was sentenced to one year in jail, and another 60 days were added as punishment for violating probation for the 1992 rape conviction.
The Maryland Parole Commission voted 5-1 on Friday to grant Tyson's release.
Earlier yesterday, Tyson's manager, Shelley Finkel, said he would ''have to sit down and talk with Mike about his boxing plans."
Asked if he thought Tyson might fight this year, Finkel said: ''I haven't seen any reason for him not to.''
Tyson has three fights remaining on a deal with the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and at least three more fights with Showtime.
The 32-year-old boxer last fought on January 16 and was behind on all three cards before he stopped Francois Botha in the fifth round in Las Vegas.
With good behaviour, Tyson would have been released from jail in September had he not been granted parole. He will now be on parole until September, followed by two years' probation which includes 200 hours of community service.
Tyson was granted parole in Maryland on Friday. Indiana authorities needed to approve the decision before Tyson would be allowed to go home for the first time since he was jailed in February.
Becky Wagner, the judge's assistant chief clerk, said Judge Gifford and Tyson's lawyers had agreed that the jail time already served by Tyson in Maryland for an assault conviction satisfied his probation penalty.

West Indies serve Kiwis
a Jacobs cracker

RIDLEY JACOBS completed a fine all-round performance to rekindle the West Indies' hopes of World Cup glory as they overcame previously unbeaten New Zealand by seven wickets at Southampton.
First wicketkeeper Jacobs equalled the World Cup record for the most dismissals in an innings with five catches as New Zealand were dismissed for 156 in 48.1 overs — their lowest World Cup score — after being put in by Brian Lara. Then Jacobs opened his side's reply and ensured they would secure their second win in three group matches with an 88-ball half century containing seven boundaries.
Victory put the West Indies level on four points in joint-second place with New Zealand, two behind Pakistan but two ahead of Australia, who meet the Windies in what could be a vital final group match at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, the pride of Group B's non-Test nations was at stake as Scotland and Bangladesh produced a gripping contest before the hosts fell to a narrow defeat.
In a game that swung dramatically, the victors owed their 22-run victory to a moment of huge good fortune. Scottish batsman Gavin Hamilton had made 63, including an imperious six off Manjurul Islam when the bowler ran him out following up at the non-striker's end.

Wilson to captain Wallabies
for Irish test

DAVID WILSON was reappointed yesterday as Australian rugby captain, replacing injured skipper John Eales.
The Queensland flanker was awarded the captaincy for the second time after previously leading Australia in two tests in 1997 when Eales was again sidelined.
At this stage, Wilson has been appointed just to lead the side in the opening international of the new season, against Ireland in Brisbane on June 12, although he is certain to remain in charge until Eales returns for the World Cup in October.
"It's a great honour for me and a great challenge," Wilson said yesterday. "It's going to be a difficult year for us with the World Cup ahead and so many players injured, but we're confident we can do the job."
With Eales and a host of other frontline players including Matt Burke and Stephen Larkham unavailable, Australia's selectors were forced to include several new names for the first of two tests against the Irish.
Chris Latham, who played two tests at the end of last season, was chosen as Burke's replacement at full-back while Nathan Spooner was handed Larkham's fly-half shirt as well as the kicking duties in his test debut.
ACT backrower Jim Williams and former Springbok captain Tiaan Strauss also made the 22-man squad as replacements. Strauss became eligible to play for Australia this season after completing his three year residential term.
He joins former Argentine prop Patricio Noriega, who played his first test for Australia last year, in a growing band of players to have represented two countries.
Latham and Spooner were both selected as a reward for their outstanding performances for Queensland in this year's Super 12 provincial series.
The Reds, provide the bulk of the test side with nine of the 15 selections, finished at the top of the Super 12 table after the regular season before bowing out in last weekend's semi-finals.
Wilson's first attempt at leading the Wallabies in 1997 ended in disaster when Australia crashed to two heavy defeats, including a record 61-22 loss to South Africa.
But Wilson said he was confident he could make amends this season although he remains wary of the Irish.
"They are in our pool for the World Cup this year so there's no way we're treating them lightly," Wilson said.
"They are a tough side that play with a lot of passion so we know we'll have to be at our best."
The Irish arrive in Australia this week for a four-game tour that includes two tests. The tour begins with a warm-up match against New South Wales Country on May 31 and ends with the second test in Perth on June 19. Warren Gatland's men will also be playing New South Wales, who will be anxious to make amends for a disappointing Super 12 campaign.
Australia are also scheduled to play England in a one-off test in Sydney on June 26 before the start of the annual Tri-Nations series with New Zealand and South Africa.
AUSTRALIA: 15-Chris Latham; 14-Ben Tune, 13-Daniel Herbert, 12-Tim Horan, 11-Joe Roff; 10-Nathan Spooner, 9-George Gregan; 8-Toutai Kefu, 7-David Wilson (captain), 6-Matt Cockbain, 5-David Giffin, 4-Tom Bowman, 3-Patricio Noriega, 2-Jeremy Paul, 1-Dan Crowley. Reserves: Chris Whitaker, Nathan Grey, Jason Little, Tiaan Strauss, Jim Williams, Andrew Blades, Phil Kearns.

Dettori is spoilt for choice
with Adair back in picture

by David Carr and Steven Til
FRANKIE DETTORI was yesterday left with a Vodafone Derby dilemma after former favourite Adair forced his way back into the Epsom picture.
The Italian, without a victory from seven previous rides in the race, had seemed set to partner last week's impressive Predominate Stakes winner Dubai Millennium for Godolphin in the premier Classic a week on Saturday.
But he may now be tempted to switch to Adair, who delighted him in a full-scale early-morning work-out at Leicester racecourse.
Ladbrokes are unable to split the pair, quoting both Dubai Millennium and his once-raced ex-American stable-companion at 8-1 for Epsom.
''Frankie is not committed to either horse at the moment, although the intention is to run both of them in the Derby,'' said Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford.
''There are a lot of different factors for him to consider at the moment and I expect riding arrangements will be firmed up in a week's time.''
''We'll have to wait until next week to see how both horses are doing. It just looks as if Adair's coming to himself now but it's nice to have a choice of two,'' added Dettori, whose best previous effort in the Derby was second place on Tamure in 1995.
Adair was promoted to Epsom favouritism early this month only to drift in the betting after missing his intended British debut in the Dante Stakes at York.
Reflecting on that hiccup, Crisford said: ''It's probably a blessing in disguise that he didn't go there as we would have been forced to pull him out because of the soft ground.
''What we saw this morning is a colt who is now very much on course for Epsom.
''Adair worked very nicely and over the final two furlongs exerted his superiority to finish about a length and a half in front of Rhagaas with Slip Stream and two lead horses further back.
''It was nice to see him handle the gradients of the track extremely well on perfect ground.
''He stays well, handles an undulating track and basically seems to be making the necessary progress just at the right time. What I liked very much about this morning's gallop was that he was doing all his best work at the finish.''
Next Derby hope to have a racecourse work-out will be Housemaster, who will make an early ''getting-to-know-you'' visit to Epsom itself.
He will have a spin over the course tomorrow morning, giving jockey Willie Ryan his first chance to partner the colt who will in turn be able to gain experience of the unique switchback track.
Housemaster was ridden by Richard Quinn, who switches to Lucido in the premier Classic a week on Saturday, when disqualified from first place in the Chester Vase a fortnight ago.
Explaining the decision to make an advance trip to Epsom, trainer Michael Bell said: ''Housemaster is going to familiarise himself with the course - a bit of match practice can't do him any harm.
''And it will be the first time that Willie has been able to ride him.
''But he is the most straightforward ride in the yard, an absolute Christian.
''Touch wood all the stable are running out of their skins and as of now, 12 days away from the race, Housemaster is in excellent shape.''
Brancaster's preparation for the blue riband will really step up a gear at home at Manton today.
The Sagitta 2000 Guineas fourth's stamina will be put to the test in a workout over a mile and a quarter - just two furlongs short of the Derby trip.
Harry Herbert, racing manager to Brancaster's owners the Royal Ascot Racing Club, said: ''He will do some serious work over a mile and a quarter tomorrow and he's going to be ridden by Jimmy Fortune.
''Brancaster is notoriously lazy at home but he worked well with Jimmy on for the first time last week.''
Vodafone Derby: Ladbrokes betting: 6-1 Saffron Waldon, 7-1 Beat All, 8-1 Adair, Dubai Millennium, 9-1 Oath, 10-1 Lucido, 14-1 Daliapour, Salford Express, Val Royal, 16-1 bar.
William Hill: 13-2 Beat All, Dubai Millennium, 7-1 Saffron Waldon, 8-1 Adair (10-1), Oath, 10-1 Lucido, 12-1 Housemaster, 14-1 Daliapour, Salford Express, Val Royal, 16-1 bar.
Coral: 6-1 Beat All (from 11-2), 7-1 Dubai Millennium (from 6-1), Oath, Saffron Waldon, 9-1 Adair (from 12-1), 10-1 Lucido (from 8-1), 12-1 Val Royal, Salford Express, 14-1 Housemaster, Daliapour, 16-1 bar.

Another opportunity for
Nathan's Boy to shine

by "Faugh-A-Ballagh"
NATHAN'S BOY is worth another chance to confirm the promise he showed at Beverley last month back over the same course and distance for the Rose And Crown Handicap today.
Nathan's Boy and apprentice Paul Quinn scooted up the inner rail to land a contest in April the form of which has subsequently been dramatically boosted.
The runner-up, third, fifth and sixth have all come out and won since.
However, Nathan's Boy has been unable to match their exploits, having failed to act at the idiosyncratic Chester course on his penultimate outing and then finished down the field last week at Pontefract, having been carried wide around the tight final turn and left unable to land a blow on the principals.
But trainer Reg Hollinshead has not lost his faith in Quinn.
Off just a 3lb higher mark than when successful, it could pay to take a chance upon the three-year-old recapturing his best form with conditions back in his favour.
Night of Glass looks hard to oppose in the Happy Birthday Eddie Moll Rated Stakes. Les Eyre's six-year-old has been a model of consistency this season but has yet to gain just reward for his efforts.
It seemed that the first success of the season was simply a matter of time after Night of Glass had finished a close third to Right Wing in the Worthington Lincoln at Doncaster in March.
But his luck has been out since in three other fiercely-competitive events - Ascot's Victoria Cup, the Thirsk Hunt Cup and the Hambleton Rated Stakes at York.
His last run - when 5lb out of the handicap - was a particularly fine effort and today's contest is nothing like as difficult.
Better still he has been given a chance by the handicapper as he is allowed to run off a mark 3lb lower here.
England's Rose showed enough promise on her debut second to Evergreen Venture at Lingfield two weeks ago to suggest that she is well up to winning races.

Rose has chance to bloom

by "Foxhunter"
ENGLAND'S ROSE can fulfil the promise of her recent debut second at Lingfield by taking the Kings Head Maiden Filly stakes at Beverley this afternoon.
Henry Cecil has a good record with lightly raced maidens that he sends north from his Newmarket base and England's Rose looks to have been found a suitable opportunity here.
Nap and Double England's Rose and My Lass

The selection was easy to back at Lingfield, drifting from 9/4 to 7/2, but, nevertheless, showed enough promise to suggest that a race such as today's is well within her capabilities.
At Lingfield she was held up in the rear early on and lost significant ground when impeded five furlongs out. She was well in arrears turning into the straight but stayed on nicely in the closing stages to finish a three an a half lengths second to Evergreen Venture.
Kieron Fallon replaces a 7lbs claimer on her this afternoon and the pair look to have only Carefree Cheetah as a serious rival.

© Examiner Publications Ltd, 1999