Dallaglio, Lawrence Bruno Nero (1972– )

English rugby union player. A powerful and highly mobile flank forward, he was appointed England captain in 1997, just two years after making his full international debut. He captained Wasps to their first-ever English club championship in 1997 and repeated the feat four more times during his career. In 2003 he helped England to win the Grand Slam in the Six Nations Championship and the World Cup in Australia. After retiring initially in 2004, he came out of international retirement in 2006 and played for England in the Six Nations Championship. He retired permanently in 2008, finishing his career tied for second on the list of most appearances for England.

Career highlights

International appearances (1995–2007) 88

(including 3 for the British Lions)

Tries 17

Total points 85

World Cup 2003

English League Championship 1997, 2003, 2005, 2008

European Cup 2004, 2007

English Cup 1999, 2000, 2006

In June 1997 he resigned from the England captaincy after allegations that he had taken and supplied recreational drugs. In September 1999 he was cleared, and in 2000 he was able to repeat his 1999 achievement of leading Wasps to victory in the English Cup. In 2007 he led Wasps to their second European Cup triumph in four years.

A talented sevens player, he was a member of the England side that won the World Cup Sevens at Murrayfield in 1993. He made a major contribution to the British Lions' victorious tour of South Africa in 1997 and was selected for the 2001 tour of Australia; however, a serious knee injury brought his tour to a premature end.

Dallaglio always denied the allegations of drug use, but admitted that he had made up stories of drug-taking by himself and two other players to impress a pair of tabloid journalists posing as advertising executives. He was charged with bringing the game into disrepute and fined £15,000, but was spared a suspension.