England manager Martin Johnson has insisted he has no need to restrict players’ access to their families or instigate an alcohol ban during the forthcoming World Cup in New Zealand.
The infamous “WAGS” (Wives and Girlfriends) disrupted the preparations of England’s players at the 2006 soccer World Cup in Germany.
However, Johnson’s experience as a Rugby World Cup-winning captain in Australia eight years ago tells him the presence of partners can benefit a player’s on-field form.
Photo: AFP
“It is the best thing you can have,” Johnson said at England’s training base at Bagshot on Monday before the squad departed for New Zealand.
“I had my wife and my little girl out there in 2003 and it is part of the switching-off process. It gives you some normality,” Johnson said.
“I don’t impose travel restrictions. The wives and girlfriends are all very sensible and very supportive and just want their partners to have a good experience in terms of playing,” he said.
Four players, none of who are in the World Cup squad, found themselves caught up in a sex scandal during England’s ill-fated tour of New Zealand in 2008 and Johnson said he had repeatedly reminded his team about the need to avoid compromising situations.
“You have got to be careful — it is a different world to what it was. I remember going there [New Zealand] 18 years ago as a British Lion and the boys had good fun, but you have got to be careful,” he said.
Squads such as Wales, where a number of players have been involved in alcohol-related incidents, have taken it upon themselves to become “dry camps,” but Johnson said he saw no need to impose a booze ban.
However, the former Lions skipper made clear what the consequences would be should any of his squad step out of line.
“When I started playing rugby at senior level you were dealing with blokes,” Johnson said.
“They treated us like adults and there is no reason to change that — now they are professionals and things are far more organized in the game,” he added.
“They are there to make sensible decisions — if I can’t trust them, there is a simple choice for us to make,” Johnson said.
Badminton world No. 3 Anders Antonsen clinched his first Indonesia Open title yesterday after beating Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen, while South Korea’s An Se-young won her second championship in Jakarta. The 28-year-old Dane sank world No. 7 Chou at the Indonesian capital’s Istora Senayan arena, winning 22-20, 21-14 in a 60-minute match to secure the prestigious Super 1000 event. Antonsen came out on top in a tightly contested first game before cruising to victory in the second. In a more closely fought women’s singles final, South Korean ace and world No. 1 An fought back from one game down to beat China’s
Spain starlets Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams dazzled on Thursday as La Roja beat France 5-4 in a thriller in Stuttgart, Germany, to set up a UEFA Nations League final with Portugal. Yamal bagged a brace, while Williams scored and provided an assist as the two wingers cut France’s makeshift defense to ribbons. Mikel Merino and Pedri were also on the score sheet for the UEFA Euro 2024 champions. Kylian Mbappe netted a second-half penalty, but Spain were 5-1 up and cruising, before Les Bleus suddenly woke up as their opponents took their foot off the pedal. France’s three late goals — a
Italy crashed to a 3-0 loss away to Norway, as the four-time FIFA World Cup champions made a disastrous start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday, while Belgium had to settle for a draw in North Macedonia. Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland all scored in the first half in pouring rain in Oslo as Norway made it a night to forget for Italy, who missed out on the past two World Cups. “I have no explanation. Our supporters don’t deserve this kind of match. We need to do some soul-searching. It’s unacceptable,” Italy captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi
The Crusaders yesterday produced a clinical performance in difficult conditions to beat the Queensland Reds 32-12 and claim home advantage in next week’s Super Rugby semi-finals. Lock Scott Barrett and prop Tamaiti Williams scored first-half tries to reward an outstanding performance from the Crusaders’ forwards in wet, slippery conditions and bitterly cold temperatures. Scrumhalf Noah Hotham defied the conditions in the second half to score a superb solo try and, after kicking a conversion and penalty to make the score 22-0 at the hour mark, flyhalf Rivez Reihana scored a try which took the game beyond the Reds. “Typical Christchurch weather, cold, wet
RSS