Three-time Six Nations champion Matt Dawson has revealed the extent of England’s drinking rituals back at the height of his career – and how players would be punished for the same today. The age of professionalism in rugby has witnessed an end to certain practices around the sport, including rituals that were once commonplace for the game’s elite.

Dawson’s old England and Wasps team-mate, Lawrence Dallaglio, recently revealed how his Five Nations debut in 1996 was almost ruined by one such ritual. The back-rower was invited to attend Ben Clarke’s ‘Thursday Night Wine Club’ less than 48 hours from facing France – whom England play in this year’s Six Nations on Saturday.

As the rookie of the group, Dallaglio revealed on the ‘Stick to Rugby’ podcast how he was instructed to “get rid of all the evidence.” And as he went to dispose of empty wine bottles and used ashtrays in the team hotel, he was caught by then-England head coach Jack Rowell – just as his bathrobe proceeded to fly open in the middle of the hallway.

Asked how he felt it would go down if an England wine club came to light now, Dawson joked fans were more likely to hear about a Smoothie Social in the squad of today. But the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winner shed light on just how far the drinking escapades went at the height of his powers.

“When I first joined the England side there was a five before five club,” he told Express Sport. “And the bench who were ready for the game the next day had to go up to the pub and drink five pints before five o’clock on a Friday before an international.

“I mean that was historical, that went on for years and years with the England squad. But listen, it’s quite easy. If anyone got caught doing anything like that now they’d be out on their ear – and quite rightly so.”

It’s easy to forget how young rugby is still a professional sport, having officially stepped away from its amateur roots in 2000. Dawson captained his country to Six Nations glory that same year, accounting for one of three titles he won in the space of four tournaments.

It’s unthinkable that one would hear of a current England international being spotted supping pints at the pub less than 24 hours from a Six Nations fixture in the current climate. Even those not selected for a matchday squad would be frowned upon in that scenario, nevermind those set to line up on the bench.

The topic is particularly sensitive at a time when England have been routinely criticised for not finishing games strongly enough. Steve Borthwick’s side lost their Six Nations opener in Ireland last Saturday after yet another promising start – but Dawson dismissed the notion being linked to any lacking fitness.

“There’s no way they can’t be fit enough,” said the retired scrum-half. “But unfortunately a lot of those players are not necessarily making those decisions that I believe would be the correct decisions in those moments [when they’re most tired].”

A hangover certainly wouldn’t help improve that part of any player’s game, so it’s just as well England have done away with certain traiditions in that sense. It definitely didn’t help Dallaglio in Paris nearly 30 years ago as England lost 15-12 that day – with Borthwick’s men desperate to end a run of three straight losses against Les Bleus on Saturday.