Ruck and Maul: Brown all ears as England go solo for 2015 World Cup

They dillied and dallied but England decided to throw their bowler hat (or, under the economic climate, cloth cap) into the ring. South Africa had set the pace by courting the IRB in Cape Town but the English have made a solo bid for the 2015 World Cup. “Rugby is one of the great sports,” said Gordon Brown, who was relieved to talk about something other than financial chaos. The RFU did not find the Prime Minister, recently referred to as a one-eyed Scottish idiot by a two-eyed Englishman with a bison head, blinkered. England went to Downing Street to promote the new Injured Players’ Foundation. Denis Thatcher, as a former rugby ref, would have been at home here, but even more so was Brown, who lost an eye playing the game when he was 16. England sought Government approval of their World Cup bid, without which the £80m down payment would be a bridging loan too far. If the Red Rose prevail, they say they might throw a match or two to Cardiff and Swansea. P.S. Rugby’s risk of serious injury is estimated at 0.8 per 100,000 people, which is lower than skiing, swimming, gymnastics and horse riding. They don’t mention gambling.

Gavin must go to Church

Gavin Henson, not for the first time, has had to stand in front of the Wales squad and issue an apology. Even though he has yet to appear in this Six Nations, he can’t keep his nose clean. Half a dozen of the Red Dragons hit on the great idea of going to a pub in Cardiff and the police were called after Henson, apparently, was not so much at a pool table as on it. Alan Phillips, the manager of Wales, said: “We didn’t want to stop anyone having a few beers in a controlled environment.” Why doesn’t Gavin stay in? Or, better still, go to Church on a Sunday?

Pumas at home up north

England visit Argentina for two Tests in the summer, except for the fact that it will be one, via a detour of Manchester. The first match, on 6 June, is at Old Trafford, at the request of the Pumas who want to earn some money from the crowd at Manchester United’s ground. It also gains the RFU a foothold up north where, if successful in their bid, they will stage several World Cup games. The second Test against Argentina is on 13 June, not in Buenos Aires but at the Padre Ernesto Martearena stadium in Salta. England supporters need to head for the Andes.

One of the great old dears

Most clubs have them but London Welsh were indebted to Audrey McDonald, whose association went from young to middle-aged before she put the elder in Old Deer Park. Before dying at the age of 80 she might have spoken to everybody who ever came into the ground. Her wake last week was attended by four British and Irish Lions and a couple of Wales coaches. She could not be sidestepped.

t.glover@independent.co.uk