Dallaglio to end Test career

WASPS have called a press conference for lunchtime today that will end mounting speculation over Lawrence Dallaglio’s future.

Dallaglio has announced his England retirement once already — in August 2004 — and could be set to bow out of the Test arena for a second time.

England head coach Brian Ashton names his 32-man squad for the RBS Six Nations on Wednesday and stated upon his reappointment two weeks ago that Dallaglio would remain under consideration for international duty.

But Ashton, who was heavily criticised in Dallaglio’s recent autobiography, is expected to favour younger players as he begins rebuilding the team.

Dallaglio started on the bench for the latter stages of the World Cup and played only a peripheral role during the march to the final.

But with the old war-horse magnificent in the latter stages of the Heineken Cup, talk of his retirement faded.

Instead, Wasps are now keen to tie Dallaglio down to a new contract with his current deal set to expire in the summer.

Wasps chief executive Tony Copsey said earlier this week: “Lawrence is currently playing some of the best rugby he’s played for a long time.

“We hope he will carry on playing for us next season.”

While back row prodigies Tom Rees and James Haskell are expected to become major players for England, they are not yet the finished article.

Wasps are keen for them to continue their education under the watchful eye of Dallaglio, who has led the club to two Heineken Cup triumphs and four Guinness Premiership titles.

His continued presence at Adams Park could possibly involve a tracksuit role with forwards coach Craig Dowd having returned to New Zealand.

Leon Holden has replaced Dowd but the Kiwi’s area of expertise is technical analysis and Wasps may see Dallaglio as the long-term solution.

The club have a policy of promoting from within and will be determined to keep Dallaglio, who has spent his entire 17-year playing career at Wasps.

Further opportunities could arise with highly-rated assistant coach Shaun Edwards weighing up offers for part-time roles with England and Wales.

Should Dallaglio accept an offer to become player-coach, his new duties would be incompatible with England as some Six Nations and club fixtures overlap, forcing his international retirement.