Giant Dallaglio lays it down the line: I nearly answered Ireland’s call

NOT every sports biography is as honest as Lawrence Dallaglio’s. Michael Moynihan spoke to the Wasps star about emotional development, Warren Gatland, and that shocking revelation about Barry Manilow.

A STRAIGHT-RUNNING number eight on the field, Lawrence Dallaglio is proving a straight talker off it.

His autobiography, ‘It’s In The Blood’ is refreshingly frank about life as a top sportsman, dealing honestly with emotional issues like relationship difficulties and his sister’s early death in the Marchioness boating tragedy. Dallaglio describes himself as an “emotional retard” due to his focus on getting to the top; does he think most people are aware of the toll sporting excellence takes on an athlete’s family life? “I’m not sure you can be unless you’re involved in elite sport.