England’s players agree cake ban for World Cup
Sweet treats are off the menu for England’s players in a self-imposed ban, according to flanker Lewis Ludlam, as the hard work continues in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup.
Catching sight of the refreshments on offer at England’s Pennyhill Park base, Ludlam remarked that he had not seen a cake in weeks, before elaborating that the squad have voluntarily clamped down on desserts.
Referencing how dietary restrictions might have been imposed on the squad during the Eddie Jones era, Ludlam explained the group’s new voluntary approach.
“The regime has changed, in that it is not so much forced upon you but you are trusted to do everything the right way,” Ludlam said. “It is a good group of lads so we keep each other in check. There might be a birthday cake here and there, but I think the lads are pretty understanding of what is ahead of us and that we have got to be on the money.”
England have swapped the 40C heat of training in Verona for the cooler and more familiar surroundings of Surrey this week, as preparations continue toward England’s opening warm-up match against Wales on Aug 5.
Northampton captain Ludlam, who revealed new scrum coach Tom Harrison has placed an emphasis on back-rowers adding more to England’s scrum as opposed to “just being on the side and not contributing much”, added: “Because we’ve been in camp for a long period of time, it’s starting to feel like a club rather than an international team where you are in for only six weeks or whatever – it’s starting to come together really nicely into one unit.”