Goodwill ran out on the once good Will Carling yesterday and the plug was pulled on his testimonial match at Wembley on December 4th. Its promoter Mike Burton said public hostility following Carling's dumping of Ali Cockayne, the mother of his baby son, for Lisa Cooke, wife of another former England international David, had forced the cancellation.

"Our position as promoters is untenable," said Burton. "It was becoming increasingly difficult to put a team on the field." A capacity crowd had been expected to watch a World XV v Fiji and generate up to £1 million, of which the former England captain stood to receive half.

Burton said clubs and authorities who had been ready to release players had withdrawn them. In particular the Fijians had pulled out.

Among those due to play was Jonah Lomu. Phil Kingsley-Jones, his manager, said: "English rugby was a joke until Will Carling arrived on the scene and I know Jonah thinks he is a fabulous player." Now, sadly, Carling is the joke.