Ian Ritchie, the Rugby Football Union’s chief executive, says he is confident England’s players will behave themselves in the buildup to this year’s Rugby World Cup despite the recent string of headline-grabbing incidents involving Manu Tuilagi, Dylan Hartley and Danny Cipriani.
Tuilagi and Hartley have been excluded from the squad for disciplinary reasons while Cipriani is still awaiting the result of a blood test after being arrested on suspicion of drink-driving. Ritchie, however, does not think the image of English rugby has been tarnished and believes the squad’s culture has improved significantly under Stuart Lancaster.
“I don’t feel let down, I feel disappointed for them and they must feel that as well,” said Ritchie, commenting on the removal of Tuilagi and Hartley from Lancaster’s squad. “This is the moment of a lifetime for them so to miss it is extremely sad. The over-arching position, however, is a good one. I don’t think we have an image problem at all.”
Ritchie, talking at the launch of the RWC trophy tour 100 days before the tournament’s opening game, also revealed he had spoken to people involved in England’s ill-starred 2011 campaign in New Zealand, including Lancaster’s predecessor, Martin Johnson, to try to ensure there is no repeat this autumn.
This time the impact of social media, particularly camera phones, will be significantly greater as will the expectation on England as the hosts. “We have spoken to and learnt from those people who were involved in 2011 and are still involved in the England team,” said Ritchie.
“Stuart, the coaching team ... we have all sat down with the players. I think they’re very clear on their responsibilities as we get nearer to the event. They all recognise its importance and the opportunity it presents for them. I think they get that very clearly and I’m confident we’re in a good place. I have no doubts about the culture, the discipline and the way in which the squad will deal with all the pressures over the next few weeks and months. They will be significant but again that has been planned for.”
Ticket sales for the tournament have now exceeded 2m and the organisers are confident they will deliver the most financially successful World Cup in history. Ritchie also remains bullish about the host country’s chances on the field. “There is only one focus and that is to make sure we deliver on the pitch. You start off with the belief and the objective that we want to set out and win the World Cup. Will we do it? It is going to be a very hard job but we will give it our best shot.”
England’s World Cup shirt, meanwhile, will be launched on 6 July and Ritchie has defended the high cost of the latest special-edition jerseys. “People will buy them if they want to buy them. If nobody wants to buy the one at £120 that is the call of the consumer. Nobody is forcing anybody but we think it is a very special shirt and all the funds go back into the game.”
