England co-operate with Luger probe

Clive Woodward today pledged that England would “fully comply” with a World Cup probe into how his team briefly fielded 16 players against Pool C opponents Samoa.

World Cup chiefs are trying to establish whether or not England deliberately ignored a match official before Dan Luger entered the field.

Substitute Luger appeared on the pitch for around 30 seconds during England’s 35-22 victory in Melbourne on Sunday.

It meant that England briefly had one player too many on the pitch, and tournament director Fraser Neill has requested an explanation from them.

“It was an error, I can assure you, and yes, there has been an investigation,” said Woodward.

“I have only just found out about that, and obviously we are co-operating fully with that investigation.”