Pubdate: Wed, 26 May 1999
Source: Scotsman (UK)
Copyright: The Scotsman Publications Ltd 1999
Contact:  http://www.scotsman.com/
Forum: http://www.scotsman.com/
Author: Matt Wells

GILLETTE IN A LATHER OVER 'MISUSE OF NAME'

GILLETTE expressed shock at its unwitting involvement in the Lawrence
Dallaglio affair yesterday and said its legal department was considering
the implications.

Dallaglio's aides claimed that two reporters from the News of the World,
who enticed the former England rugby union captain into making claims about
his drug use, had gone to great lengths in their attempts to appear genuine
representatives of the cosmetics firm.

Claiming to be from anagency employed by Gillette, the pair are said to
have used business cards, headed notepaper and fax numbers as part of their
cover.

Gillette would not say yesterday whether it would take legal action against
the News of the World, but confirmed that its legal department was
involved. "We are shocked at the implication that our company is involved
and we wish to deny unequivocally that Gillette or anyone acting on our
behalf has been involved in this matter," the company said. It added that,
in the light of an investigation by the Rugby Football Union, it would not
comment further.

The RFU announced that a three-member panel would lead the investigation
into the allegations, including that Dallaglio took cocaine and ecstasy
during the British Lions' tour of South Africa in 1997.

Two members of the panel were named as Bob Rogers, the RFU's chairman of
game regulations and a former lawyer; and Alan Steven, an RFU council
member for Devon and a retired detective superintendent. A third,
independent member who will supervise the investigation will be appointed
soon, the RFU said.

Later the RFU said the panel would meet with the News of the World today.

Dallaglio received the public backing of the England coach, Clive Woodward,
yesterday. Woodward attended the player's press conference at Twickenham
and stood at the back of the room to hear Dallaglio claim that, although he
took drugs during his late teens, it would not be possible to play at the
top level of the game and still take illegal substances.

Woodward said that the player had been "naive, stupid and a right prat",
but added that he hoped he could be in England's World Cup team in October.
"He started bragging and he will live to regret it. He has dropped
everybody right in it, including himself, but you don't ruin a guy's life
for being stupid."

Nigel Melville, the manager of Wasps, Dallaglio's club, said he could
"understand but not condone" Dallaglio's experimentation with drugs, but
was convinced that the player no longer used illegal substances. "I don't
believe an international sportsman could perform at the highest level if he
took drugs. Lawrence has been tested four times in the last year," he said.

Phil Hall, the News of the World editor, said he was unimpressed by
Dallaglio's comments. "I think he's made mistakes in the past and he could
have put his hands up to it and said, 'I'm sorry, I've made terrible
mistakes, I've put my life right now and I want to do something to make
sure other people don't follow a similar suit', but he didn't take that
option," he said.
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