O’Connor insists rugby has no doping culture

Leinster coach, Matt O’Connor, has played down claims that rugby has a widespread illegal drug culture by insisting he has never encountered it in a playing and coaching career that has spanned his native Australia, France, Japan, England and now Ireland.

The issue has risen to prominence in France recently with the publication of a book discussing the subject.

Irish journalist, Paul Kimmage, who has written extensively on drugs on sport, has also suggested the game here has its head in the sand on the issue.

“We would have drug testers in our environment, if not every week, every other week,” said O’Connor yesterday. “I’ve never come across anything that would indicate that we have an issue in our game.”

Jamie Heaslip echoed his coach’s words pointing to the regularity with which professional rugby players such as himself undergo blood and urine testing, both at work and at home.

Meanwhile, the province’s plans for Sunday’s Rugby Champions Cup clash with Harlequins in London haven’t been helped by news that utility back Fergus McFadden has been ruled out for four to six weeks. McFadden underwent surgery on a thumb injury last Tuesday to repair ligament damage. The initial word on Luke Fitzgerald meanwhile is the injury-bedevilled player will be available this weekend.

Rob Kearney has also been given the go-ahead having trained, despite rumours that he would be sidelined, while Ian Madigan is also being talked up after rolling an ankle last week.

The prognoses on props Marty Moore and Cian Healy suggest that the long-term absentees may be available in mid-December. Sean O’Brien is also recuperating well, it seems.

As for this week, Leinster and Harlequins are both unbeaten after the opening two rounds and it is that sort of form, rather than the English side’s ninth position in the Premiership, which O’Connor is banking on at the weekend.

“What they’ve delivered in the last couple of weeks is irrelevant to what‘s going to happen on Sunday. Their form in Europe’s been brilliant. They’re two from two. That’s our focus, in making sure we’re ready for the challenges that go with that.”