Rugby Union: Psychiatrist Joins England Squad

England have hired a top forensic psychiatrist in an attempt to improve their chances of retaining their Rugby World Cup title in October. Dr Steve Peters, the man behind British cycling's medal-winning success, has begun work with the squad at their training camp in Portugal and will be closely involved with the team's tournament preparations.

Peters enjoys huge respect within cycling and his methods have helped Bradley Wiggins and Vicky Pembleton among others to conquer the world. England's head coach, Brian Ashton, is hoping he can weave similar magic over the next two months and develop a winning mentality within a side which has not won an away Test for 18 months.

The 55-year-old Peters is merely on part-time lease to the Rugby Football Union from the British Cycling Federation where he will continue to assist preparations for next year's Beijing Olympics. The BCF's performance director, Dave Brailsford, described him yesterday as "a genius" and "the best-kept secret in British sport" and predicted that cycling's generous loan would be rugby's gain. "Working in sport you don't come across true genius very often," said Brailsford, swift to remind his Twickenham counterpart, Rob Andrew, that cycling has first call on Peters' services until the 2012 London Olympics. "He's a fabulous guy and he's helped us no end."

So impressed have the players been since Peters, the dean of the Sheffield School of Medicine and a talented sprinter who holds the world 100m and 200m veterans titles, met the squad last Friday that more than half have subsequently booked individual appointments.