From muck to brass...

TWO former captains of England's rugby team are still reaping the rewards of last year's World Cup triumph, though they never laid a hand on the ball.

Fran Cotton and Steve Smith, who played for England mainly in the Seventies, filed the 2003 accounts for their clothing firm, Cotton Traders, last week showing a 44% profits leap.

Cotton said: 'The World Cup certainly played its part. Everybody regards us a rugby brand, but it only represents about five% of turnover.'

Cotton and Smith set up the business 16 years ago, marketing rugby shirts from a small building in Altrincham, Manchester.

It has grown to a business with 500 UK staff and suppliers and customers around the world. The accounts show turnover up 11% at £45m and £1.98m pre-tax profits.

Cotton is chairman of Club England, the Rugby Football Union's policy-making body, and Smith is a regular television commentator.

They also supply kit to the Barbarians, Gloucester, Leicester, Sale and London Welsh and are official clothing suppliers to Lord's Cricket Club.

Cotton and Smith each own 30% of the company.