Rugby story by Carl Anders, Fri, 20 Jan 2006 02:28:00 GMT


LONDON - Lawrence Dallaglio was named in Andy Robinson's squad for the upcoming Six Nations that gets underway next month. Dallaglio returns to the England squad nearly 17 months after announcing that he would quit international rugby.

The 33-year-old was delighted to be back in contention for a place in the main squad and said that it was a challenge he was looking forward to, "I've set targets, and now I'm one step closer. The target was not to make the squad but to make the team. That's what my sights are set on. I'm in this for the long haul. I'm under no illusions how difficult it will be," he said last night.

Dallaglio, who happens to be the fourth most capped player for England, said that he was aware that an inclusion in the squad did not mean an automatic inclusion in the playing team, "It's up to all of us now to make sure England go out and play as well as we can, and I am looking forward to competing for a place in the team," he asserted.

Andy Robinson said that Lawrence would have to work hard to get into the team, "It is great to be able to include Lawrence; his appetite to play for England again is huge," he said. "However, he knows as well as anyone the back row is a massively competitive area. Like any player he will need to work hard to be selected."

Dallaglio wants to help England retain the World Cup next year, "This championship is about England's future and developing a side to defend the World Cup in France in 2007," he was quoted as saying to The Sun. England begin their Six Nations campaign with a game against Wales at Twickenham on February 4 and are scheduled to have a two-week training camp from Monday onwards.

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