Personal tragedies bond England trio tighter

DEFEAT for England in the World Cup final tomorrow would hurt but for a trio of players it would pale into insignificance for the personal losses that they have suffered.

All three Lawrence Dallaglio, Will Greenwood and Ben Cohen though believe that the losses they suffered have bonded not only them tighter but the whole squad.

Dallaglio's older sister Francesca died aged 19 when the Marchioness pleasure boat sank in the Thames after being hit by another boat in 1989; Greenwood and his wife

Caroline lost their first child Freddie last year just an hour after being born and Cohen's father was beaten up outside a nightclub in 2000 and died as a result of it.

However, while Dallaglio does not understandably like to talk about his ballet dancing sister's death, he admitted he has turned her loss into something positive.

"It was hugely unfortunate and not something one would wish on anyone," he has said.

"However my parents are very strong people and have taught me that you've simply got to cope with what life throws at you and move forward," added Dallaglio, who was 16 at the time of the tragedy.

For Greenwood being around the England squad after the loss of his son who was born 18 weeks premature was a huge help as he considers them like his second family. It has been accentuated by the support he received when his wife underwent emergency treatment during the tournament as she experienced difficulties with her second pregnancy.

"When we lost our child Freddie in September 2002 I found being round the England camp was the right environment for me to be in they were fantastic," said the 31-year-old centre. "I have been round these lads for a long time now through good and bad."

But as Greenwood said his late son is never far from his thoughts even when he is playing rugby at the most highly-charged level.

"One has to refocus obviously but he has never been far from my thoughts on a rugby pitch. When I scored two tries against South Africa last year I looked up into the sky and knew Freddie would be watching," said Greenwood.

Cohen too never has his father far from his thoughts but he says the most rewarding thing about the England team is that he feels like Greenwood they act as another family and some one to turn to when you are really down.

"We all care for each other's well-being. You must remember that several of us have suffered tragic losses in the past few years.

"However, strength through adversity as they say and in fact it has bonded us as a unit even tighter," said the winger.

Perhaps Mike Catt put it best when he was asked how it felt to be dropped from the starting XV for the final after winning back his place for the semi-final.

"It's only a game of rugby. There are more important things than rugby."