England

England block World Cup players writing for newspapers

ESPN Staff

England are to ban players from writing newspaper columns or making video diaries during the 2015 Rugby World Cup, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph.

This will mark a change in attitude from previous tournaments where players were allowed to write for newspapers as long as the content was cleared by the board in advance. That is what will continue to happen outside the tournament.

The move, which is designed to try to keep players focussed, was announced to the players' representatives at a recent meeting. It will come into force after the final warm-up match a fortnight before the opening game.

An England Rugby spokesman told the newspaper: "We feel it is important that the players focus as much as possible on rugby during what will be the most intense period of their rugby careers."

The trickier problem of how to manage social media remains unresolved. At the last Rugby World Cup restrictions were placed on posts about selection, injuries or training schedules, as well as bans on criticism of management and opponents.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd