The RFU have been left with red faces after an advert which shows England players celebrating winning the Grand Slam was leaked.
RFU dismayed after Grand Slam filming is leaked
The RFU have been left with red faces after an advert which shows England players celebrating winning the Grand Slam was leaked.
The video, filmed for kit supplier Nike, was filmed midway during the RBS Six Nations and showed several players in action before concluding with an image of England's red rose emblem on top of a caption which reads 'Grand Slam Champions 2011'.
However England ended up losing their Grand Slam decider with Ireland in Dublin, with the home side running out 24-8 victors.
And the RFU has insisted that England did not underestimate Ireland, with the filming in advance a necessity.
An RFU statement read: "The RFU works with all its commercial partners on their sponsorship activation.
"Forward planning is a crucial part of all commercial partnerships and all contingencies, winning or losing, have to be considered.
"It is disappointing that details of Nike's internal planning has got into the public domain.
"In no way did the RFU or the England team underestimate the challenge that the Ireland team would pose. We were well beaten by a team who played better and we have the utmost respect for (Ireland coach) Declan Kidney and the Irish players."
