Lawrence Dallaglio MBE

summary

Very few rugby players reach superstar status and those who do, fall into a very small category. Lawrence Dallaglio is one of those superstars. He has represented England at every level and is recognised as one of the world’s best backrow players. He made his debut for England in November 1995 and has won more than 65 caps for England. . He captained England before handing over to Martin Johnson and has been capped in all three positions in the backrow.  He was an automatic choice for

the 1999 World Cup and the ‘97 Lions against the Springboks and he has never played in another set of club colours, arriving at Sudbury (Wasps first home) as a teenager.

biography

Lawrence Dallaglio is one of few superstars.

Very few rugby players reach superstar status and those who do, fall into a very small category. Lawrence Dallaglio is one of those superstars.

Born in Shepherd’s Bush, London, Dallaglio has won virtually every accolade available in the game. He captained England before handing over to Martin Johnson and has been capped in all three positions in the backrow.

He was an automatic choice for the 1999 World Cup and the ‘97 Lions against the Springboks and he has never played in another set of club colours, arriving at Sudbury (Wasps first home) as a teenager.

Dallaglio was a member of England’s Sevens team winning the inaugural World Cup in 1993, then a surprise choice for the ‘94 England tour to South Africa, a shrewd selection by Jack Rowell. Yet the following winter he could not guarantee a place in Wasps backrow. One season on and he became club captain when Rob Andrew left for Newcastle in October 1995, taking four experienced players with him. He held the club together during that troubled winter and 12 months later established his full credentials by leading Wasps to the first professional English league title.

Named Daily Telegraph readers’ Player of the Year and Lloyds TSB Six Nations Player of the Year, Dallaglio had a fantastic season in 1999/2000 when he was handed back the club captaincy. Although the side’s league form was disappointing, Lawrence led Wasps on an impressive Heineken Cup run and to a second-successive Tetley Bitter Cup victory.

Another impeccable season in 2000/2001 closed with selection for his second Lions Tour but an injury in the last game of the season against Bath, meant he was doubtful for the trip to Australia. The Lions passed him fit but the knee gave way again in a mid-week match, cutting short his tour and forcing the Wasps captain to undergo reconstructive surgery.

He has represented England at every level and is recognised as one of the world’s best backrow players. He made his debut for England in November 1995 and has won more than 65 caps for England.

Dallaglio started the 2002 / 2003 season fully fit and injury free and led London Wasps to the Parker Pen Challenge Cup and Zurich Premiership trophies. He was also a member of the 2003 England Grand Slam-winning team. However, greater things were to come in the year as Dallaglio and Co set out for the World Cup. LBND (Lawrence Bruno Nero Dallaglio), as he is called, astonishingly played in every England game during the World Cup and was not replaced once. A truly remarkable feat, climaxing with a World Cup winners’ medal.

Dallaglio was given a testimonial year in 2003/04 by London Wasps and has three children. He is an avid Chelsea Football supporter and says Alan Shearer is one of his sporting heroes.

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