More money - Dallaglio
Last updated: 28th March 2008
Lawrence Dallaglio: calling for more investment
As an England fan, which I am, all we want is for England to be the best, so give them whatever they need - coaches, money - to be the best team in the world then there can be no excuses.
Lawrence Dallaglio
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Lawrence Dallaglio told the Rugby Club that more money needs to be injected in to the England set-up to improve the team.
It is a transitional time for England at present following the recent RFU management meeting and elite rugby director Rob Andrew's interim report.
Brian Ashton doesn't know if he's staying or going, but former England captain Dallaglio, who has not seen eye-to-eye with Ashton in the past, believes that the failings of England is largely down to insufficient funding.
Dallaglio characteristically spoke candidly about what he feels is proving to be a hindrance for English rugby.
He told the Rugby Club: "England at some stage have got to make a decision haven't they.
"Everyone seems to be sort of gearing themselves up towards the next World Cup: Wales have said 'right, Warren Gatland'. They go off and find the best coaching team in the world and put it together, and it has worked quite well so far.
"A lot of other teams are lining themselves up and we've got guys on 12 month rolling contracts!
"Fair enough, but you'd be hard pushed to take a 12 month contract because it's not really an endorsement of your own ability is it?
"That would suggest that things are not quite right with England at the moment and the guy who's got those decisions to make is Rob Andrew and he's certainly taking his time about it."
Dallaglio, who retired from international rugby following England's World Cup Final defeat to South Africa, emphasised the need to invest in the game in order for England to once again become the best in the world.
Budget
"It would appear to me from the outside, and I'm a long way from the action these days, we don't appear to be spending as much money on the England team as we used to spend.
"Whether we were over-spending under Clive Woodward, I don't know, but ever since 2003 it seems to me the budget has been pooled from the England team - whether it's to do with how much we pay coaches or the facilities you provide.
"And as an England fan, which I am, all we want is for England to be the best in the world so give them whatever they need - coaches, money - to be the best team in the world, then there can be no excuses.
"I just feel that everyone that has coached England in the last few years has had a reason to moan about something because I just feel that we aren't giving them the resources that perhaps we could be."
And the Wasps man believes that whatever the RFU intend on doing, needs to be done as soon as possible for the good of the team.
"Whatever decision needs to be made," continued Dallaglio, "whether it's to keep the existing coaching staff or whatever, then I think they just need to make that decision.
"Everyone can then move forward with a bit of certainty."
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