England star admits he drank five pints the day before playing for his country

Thursday, 13 March 2025 at 17:32

byRugby Rucker

Three-time Six Nations champion Matt Dawson has opened up about England's infamous drinking culture during his playing days – and how those antics would never fly in today’s game.

Rugby’s professional era has stamped out many of the old-school traditions that once defined the sport. But back in the day, some of England’s top stars were indulging in rituals that would leave modern coaches speechless.

One player who got a brutal introduction to these customs? Lawrence Dallaglio.

"The Thursday Night Wine Club"

Speaking on the

Stick to Rugby podcast, Dallaglio recalled how his Five Nations debut in 1996 nearly turned into a disaster – thanks to a midweek drinking session.

With just two days to go before facing France, the rookie back-rower was invited to Ben Clarke's "Thursday Night Wine Club." His job? Clean up the evidence.

But as he tried to discreetly dispose of the empty wine bottles and overflowing ashtrays at the team hotel, disaster struck. England head coach Jack Rowell caught him in the act—just as Dallaglio’s bathrobe flew open in the hallway.

The "Five Before Five" Challenge

Dawson, who won the Six Nations three times, shared his own experience of England's old-school drinking culture.

“When I first joined the England side there was a ‘five before five’ club,’” he told Express Sport.

“The bench players had to go to the pub and drink five pints before 5 PM on a Friday—the day before an international.”

Dawson admitted the tradition was “historical” and lasted for years. But times have changed, and he knows full well that any player caught doing the same thing today would be "out on their ear – and quite rightly so."

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