WHICH rugby player captained England to success in the last world cup? This was the question that won a man from Great Dunmow the chance of a lifetime – to train with his hero Lawrence Dallaglio. Richard Earl, of Cypress Court, was stuck in traffic when h

WHICH rugby player captained England to success in the last world cup? This was the question that won a man from Great Dunmow the chance of a lifetime - to train with his hero Lawrence Dallaglio.

Richard Earl, of Cypress Court, was stuck in traffic when he heard this question on TalkSport radio and being a long time rugby fan, he new the answer was ex-England skipper Martin Johnson.

Mr Earl said: "I text the answer in, but I've never won anything before so I wasn't expecting to hear back from them."

But to his surprise, they did get back to him and asked him to appear in a live final on the radio.

"I won the competition by answering three more questions. It shows how much I love rugby," he said.

Father-of-two Richard Earl moved to Dunmow in 2002.

A keen rugby player, he is a member of Ilford Wanderers Rugby Football Club, and was "delighted" to have the chance to train with his hero, Lawrence Dallaglio.

"It was a real thrill and an absolute pleasure to meet him," said Mr Earl. "He has always been my favourite player. I'm 41-years-old but

I was star struck when I met him."

Lawrence Dallaglio joined in the non-contact Sure Sport for Men Training Clinic with Mr Earl and nine other competition winners.

"He was huge," said Mr Earl. "I'm over six foot and he made me look small. I wouldn't like to tackle him, that's for sure."

After the training at Ealing Rugby Club in west London, Dallaglio signed autographs and had a chat with everybody that had come along to the session.

The training was very useful and Mr Earl said there were a few new ideas that he would be bringing back to his club.

Mr Earl asked the England international to sign autographs for his two daughters, Megan, 11, and five-year-old Erin.

"I think they were both very proud of their dad," he said. "Although I think they were more chuffed to hear me on the radio than by the fact that I had trained with an England rugby legend.