A RUGBY stalwart who has honed the talents of many of England's top players in their student days, watched the World Cup triumph with pride on Saturday.

Long-standing Durham University coach Ted Wood modestly claimed to have played "only the smallest parts" in the development of one of England's most flamboyant performers.

He also spoke of Jonny Wilkinson as "the one who got away", having nearly become a Durham student on leaving school.

Although now officially retired, Mr Wood still coaches the university's third team, having been first team coach for about 30 years, during which time 20 future internationals played rugby as students at Durham.

They include former captains Will Carling and Phil de Glanville, plus current centre Will Greenwood, who scored the try to ensure victory over Wales in the quarter-final.

Mr Wood said Greenwood arrived at Durham, in 1989, from Sedbergh School, as virtually the finished article, being the son of an ex-England captain and coach.

"I always say of him that I learned more from Will than from any other player.

"He's a remarkable young man. He has a good pedigree and there wasn't much I could teach him. His behaviour, attitude and skill level were first-class. It's hard to find fault with him at all."

Mr Wood said that when the final whistle blew to signal England's victory, he knew Greenwood would be thinking of his wife, who has been in hospital as a precaution awaiting the birth of their child, following the loss of their first baby at only a day old.

"Will came home after the South Africa game earlier in the tournament to see his wife and I'm sure his thoughts would have been with her after Saturday's game.

"It makes you realise there are things that are more important than rugby."

Mr Wood also spoke of how match-winning hero Wilkinson almost came to Durham.

"I understand he applied to Durham, achieved good A-level results and was accepted, but instead chose to go straight to Newcastle," said Mr Wood, who also coached fellow Falcons Charlie Hodgson and Dave Walder.

Wilkinson's house master Steve Bates, a former Falcon, recommended him to the club after spotting his potential at Lord Wandsworth School, in Hampshire.