England's dirty boots alarm Canadians

England have been re-united with their boots after a run-in with Canadian border authorities, writes Matt Lloyd.

England have been re-united with their boots after a run-in with Canadian border authorities, writes Matt Lloyd.

Joe Lydon's squad have spent the last four days in Toronto before flying to Edmonton for the start of the Churchill Cup against Canada on Sunday. But they were given permission to enter the country only after handing over their dirty boots.

Canada has strict rules concerning "alien" soils or plants being brought in to the country and officials at the airport were unhappy at the amount of mud on the boots. A spokeswoman for Agriculture Canada said: "A number of boots were detained following a flight from Heathrow but have been returned after the soil was removed and disposed of."