Welsh coach Steve Hansen has insisted that none of his World Cup squad will be involved in the early stages of the Celtic League which begins in the first weekend in September. At the moment 42 players have been named in a pre-World Cup squad, which will be reduced after the warm-up games in August, but that will be the last action his final squad will see before they take off for Australia which means that their clubs must do without them for the first two weekends of the Celtic League. With the other competing countries probably in the same boat it shouldn't give any club an advantage but the organisers would have liked to kick-off the competition with the high profile players lining out with their clubs.

The Welsh coach said that none of the regional bosses had approached him over the issue but that if they did they would be wasting their time.

"No one is available until after the World Cup," Hansen said. "We discussed it right at the beginning and we had total agreement from all those clubs. They have been totally supportive of the national team, understand the situation and are getting on with things."

Meanwhile, England are planning a massive going away party to be held on the hallowed ground at Twickenham. Preparations are being made to hold a England Rugby Send Off Dinner on 17th September when supporters are being invited to partake in a four course dinner (at a cost of #300 + vat) prepared by some of the country's finest chefs in the company of Martin Johnson and his England World Cup squad.

The dinner on the pitch will also feature an auction in aid of Sport Relief and BBC Grandstand presenter Steve Rider will host the Zurich England Rugby Awards for the 2002/03 Season.

The occasion will no doubt attract a huge attendance and looks to be a very clever move in public relations by the English players and management.