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Rugby chiefs plan player gag

30.10.07 | Philip Jones

After a weekend when English rugby's dirty World Cup laundry was aired in the media, Twickenham is to take steps to gag players after future tournaments and major tours, reports the Independent. The move was prompted by the serialisation in two Sunday newspapers of autobiographies by Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt.

Martyn Thomas, the chairman of the Rugby Football Union, said last night: "I think it is absolutely disgraceful. This has tarnished a great achievement." Thomas is determined to introduce some form of control of what players and coaches can say. He wants a cooling-off period similar to the one the Lions had, saying: "Any clause we introduce will apply to major tours and major tournaments, but within the confines of the law. We can't become censors. We have freedom of speech. I have already put a call in to the RFU legal officer, Karena Vleck, and we will discuss it, and I will raise it at the management board meeting. I am sure that Rob Andrew [England's director of rugby] and chief executive Francis Baron will raise it as well."

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