Former England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio has joined the scrum for information regarding the disappearance of his cardboard cut-out from a Rochester pub.

The life-size cut-out, part of a Six Nations promotion by brewer Greene King, was taken from The Who’d Ha Thought It, in Baker Street, on Sunday, February 15.

Mr Dallaglio, now a BBC pundit, has joined the calls for its swift return in time for England’s next game against Ireland tomorrow .

He said: “Thanks to the Medway Messenger for letting me know of the plight of my doppelganger, I am shocked that this kind of thing could have happened to such a harmless chap.

“It is dreadful to contemplate what he might be suffering, being taken from location to location to be photographed for ransom claims; never sure whether he’ll be returned to the pub for the next game of England Rugby, or if he’ll ever again be in the company of other rugby lovers.”

Meanwhile, the kidnappers themselves have contacted the Medway Messenger pleading for publicity to stop.

A new photograph was attached to the email showing the cut-out looking relatively comfortable although, worryingly, his head seemed to have been bent in two separate places.

The email also included a note, seemingly from Lawrence, saying: “I’m fine, but please, no more stuff in the papers. You need to get used to me being gone, just move on. They will let me go ... just not yet.”

No demands have been received by the newsdesk or owner of the pub Danny Vidgen.

One anonymous phone call on Monday said Lawrence had been spotted, looking in a bad way, on Maidstone Road, Rochester walking towards the Math school, holding a golf club and slurping on a pint.

The real Mr Dallaglio added: “Please help put him out of his misery. If you know anything about the hapless fellow, please contact Danny at the Who’d Ha Thought It or call the Messenger.”