England 'cheated' to win 2003 Rugby World Cup, claims Dean Richards
Rugby NewsSunday, 15 November 2020 at 08:56
dance partner and now girlfriend, Kristina Rihanoff, have had their first child together, a daughter named Milena.
England great Dean Richards claims the national team used fake blood to help them win the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
"The use of fake blood, cutting players, re-opening wounds, feigning injury in the front row, jabbing players with anesthetic all occur regularly throughout the game," Richards said in the report but insisted he had only been involved in using fake blood.
Richards was asked for examples and listed seven, including: "RWC 2003. England used faked blood [did not know whether capsule or cut by someone in medical team] to manage replacements."
When asked how he knew, Richards indicated he was informed by a person in the England squad.
In a report, Woodward said the claim was "absolute nonsense".
"We won every match in Australia. Why would we want to cheat? This is simply not true. I am not sure why Dean raised this. I have never been involved in anything like this. It is ridiculous," Woodward said.
“We won every match in Australia. Why would we want to cheat? This is simply not true.
“I am not sure why Dean raised this. I have never been involved in anything like this. It is ridiculous."
2003 Rugby World Cup final WAGS special: Here’s who our heroes settled down with
The England World Cup-winning team from 2003's contingent of WAGs include strictly dancers, models - and even a token royal.
2003 World Cup final WAGS
15. Josh Lewsey - possibly single
Most recently known to have dated British Winter Olympic gold medalist Amy Williams in 2012 but it didn't work out.
14. Jason Robinson - Sian Griffin
Robinson divorced first wife Amanda, with whom he has six children including; Cameron, Jemimah, Joseph and Lewis. In June 2017 he married Sian Griffin with whom he has one son, Noah.
13. Will Greenwood - Caroline Greenwood
Greenwood and his wife, Caroline, have three children. They previously had a son Freddie who died 45 minutes after his birth in 2002. He is a patron of Child Bereavement UK, a charity which supports parents who have lost a child.
12. Mike Tindall - Zara Phillips
In 2010, it was announced that Tindall was engaged to Zara Phillips, only daughter of Anne, Princess Royal and the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II. The couple, who now have two daughters, first met during the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
11. Ben Cohen - Kristina Rihanoff
The winger was married to Abby Blayney in 2003, and has twin daughters with her, whom they named Harriette and Isabelle. The couple were estranged since 2014, and divorced in March 2016. In January 2016 it was announced, his former Strictly Come Dancing
10. Jonny Wilkinson - Shelley Jenkins
In 2013, Wilkinson married his girlfriend of eight years, scaffolding company heiress Shelley Jenkins, in a private ceremony at the town hall of the French resort of Bandol. Only two guests, one of them Wilkinson's mother, were present at the ceremony officiated by Bandol mayor Christian Palix. They are now expecting their first baby!
9. Matt Dawson - Carolin Hauskeller,
He is married to German-born former model, Carolin Hauskeller, and the couple have two sons, Alex and Sam.
1. Trevor Woodman - Unknown
2. Steve Thompson
He married wife Fiona after he proposed to her the morning after the World Cup final. He was later reported to have a French girlfriend named Esther during his time in France with Toulon.
3. Phil Vickery - Kate
Vickery is married to vet Kate and they have two children. Enjoys nothing more than walking her dog and feeding the ducks in the local pond.
4. Martin Johnson - Kay Johnson
5. Ben Kay - Virginia
In 2002 Kay married long-time girlfriend Virginia, a physiotherapist, and they have two children. His longtime Leicester Tigers and England teammate Martin Johnson was an usher at his wedding.Embed from Getty Images
6. Richard Hill - Unknown
7. Neil Back - Alison Back
The legend keeps himself to himself but is still with his first wife Ali, who was in the crowd as England won the World Cup back in 2003. They have two children, Fin and Liv.
8. Lawrence Dallaglio
Former model and art student Alice has been with Lawrence for 23 years and they have three children. Their relationship was tested during the 2003 World Cup when Alice embarked on an affair with a friend of Lawrence's. However, they reconciled and got married in 2005.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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