‘Rugby isn’t about self-glorification’

Three weeks ago, he endured a chastening experience in an England shirt at the Aviva Stadium, but Leicester stand-off Toby Flood is confident his Tigers will roar today. He spoke to Julian Bennetts

FOR the first time in his life, Toby Flood has things exactly how he wants them. Gone are the days of switching between his law studies and rugby. So too, the interminable months of trudging around the lower reaches of the Premiership with the Newcastle Falcons.

Free of injury, he has finally taken the most important step of all; moving out of Jonny Wilkinson’s shadow. Now, the 25-year-old is the man in charge, tasked by Richard Cockerill and Martin Johnson with guiding both Leicester Tigers and England to new heights.