BBC Sportrugbyunion

The steep upward curve of Dallaglio's career came to an abrupt halt in 1999 when a tabloid newspaper operation ended with him losing the England captaincy.

Dallaglio had to sit through a humbling news conference at which he tried to explain the sensational claims of drugs use - which he strenuously denied - and he had little choice but to keep a low profile.

He got his head down at club level and gradually worked his way back into the England reckoning, albeit as a lieutenant to new skipper Martin Johnson.