Drug testing procedures outlined for All Blacks

Press, 30 August 1989, Page 36

Drug testing procedures outlined for All Blacks

PA Wellington The New Zealand Rugby Union has received notice of drug testing procedures the All Blacks may be subject to when they tour Wales and Ireland in October and November. An explanation has been received from British unions of the procedures which will be followed during Five Nations championship matches this season and which are applicable to all teams touring Britain. The agreement signed by all members of touring All Biack teams already includes a clause which requires players to submit to drug tests when necessary. The clause will be modified to take into account the procedures listed in the British communique. The R.F.U. chairman, Russ Thomas, yesterday reiterated

his union’s opposition to drug use in sport. The description of the British procedures had been submitted for New Zealand’s approval and there was no reason for approval to be withheld, he said.

"The players are well aware of the New Zealand attitude to the use of any drugs in sport,” he said. “We have a firm and positive attitude about their use not just in rugby but in any sport.” • The All Black wing, John Kirwan, will play in Italy again at the end of the current international season. Permission was granted by the union’s administration committee for Kirwan to play in Italy and Hong Kong during the New Zealand summer.

Kirwan’s application to play in Hong Kong is probably designed to allow him to play in the Hong Kong sevens

tournament. He was refused premission to participate in that tournament last season.

Kirwan delayed his return to New Zealand from Italy this season until shortly before the first test against France and there was debate over whether his participation in the Italian club playoffs was adequate preparation for test rugby. Several other leading representative players were given permission to play for Italian clubs during the New Zealand summer.

They include Daryl Halligan and David Hansen, of Waikato, and Matthew Ridge of Auckland.

Four players from Wellington’s Marist-St Pats club — Matt Smith, Jim Meates, Damien O’Brien and Chris Welch — received permission to play in Ireland.