Drinking and gambling concern Super 12 players

AUSTRALIAN Super 12 players are concerned about excessive drinking and gambling among their peers, according to a survey released yesterday.

The Australian Rugby Union Players' Association (RUPA) survey of 84 professional players, including 27 Wallabies, found that 51.1% believed one to 10 members of their state squad had a drinking problem.

The number rose to 57.1% when players were asked whether squad members had a serious gambling problem.

More than 50% felt they were pressured to play rugby when they had an injury, with many blaming overeager coaching staff.

The survey, released in RUPA's annual report, also revealed 20% of players thought refereeing was not good at Test level and more than 50% rated Super 12 refereeing as merely "OK".

An ARU spokesman said the excessive drinking and gambling was confined to isolated individuals and was not an endemic part of rugby union culture.