Johnson: no drug problem

ENGLAND rugby coach Martin Johnson has denied rugby has a drug culture and claimed players are aware of the consequences if they take prohibited substances.

Just over three months after England prop Matt Stevens received a two-year ban for using cocaine, a trio of his former Bath team-mates terminated their contracts at the club amid allegations of drug use.

Michael Lipman, who has 10 caps for England, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins strongly deny refusing to produce samples for tests and are considering legal action for constructive dismissal and defamation.

Events at the Recreation Ground have raised concerns over the extent of drug use in the sport but Johnson has confidence in the WADA-approved testing procedures that are in place.

“You can never be complacent about these things but in my experience there is not a widespread drug problem in rugby,” he said.

“For instance, today at 5.50am I got a call in my hotel bedroom because a tester wanted to see one of our guys who was on 24-hour notice. The players are very aware of the testing procedures that are being used.

“It’s not just a deterrent – they realise what they’re throwing away if they get involved in it.”

Meanwhile the Scottish Rugby Union are aiming to appoint a new Scotland head coach before the end of next week. The SRU are keen to have someone in place before the A team take part in the IRB Nations Cup, fuelling speculation Andy Robinson is set to land the role.

Martin Corry and Josh Lewsey will make their final appearances before retirement as the Barbarians take on Australia at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday.

Tour captain Corry, who led the side to victory against his former England team-mates at Twickenham last Sunday, has been named among the replacements. On the wings, the Barbarians will field two players from England’s 2003 World Cup-winning side in Lewsey and Iain Balshaw.

ENGLAND (v Argentina, Old Trafford, Saturday): D Armitage (London Irish), M Cueto (Sale), D Hipkiss (Leicester), T May (Newcastle), M Banahan (Bath); A Goode (Brive), D Care (Harlequins); T Payne (Wasps), D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Newcastle), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), L Deacon (Leicester), J Haskell (Wasps), S Armitage (London Irish), N Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements: S Thompson (Brive), J White, B Kay, J Crane (all Leicester), P Hodgson (London Irish), S Vesty (Leicester), M Tait (Sale Sharks).

ARGENTINA: H Agulla; G Camacho, M Avramovic, G Tiesi, F Aramburu; N Vergallo, J M Hernandez; J Lobbe (captain), J Leguizamon, A Galindo, P Albacete, M Carizza, J Orlandi, A Basualdo, R Roncero.

Replacements: E Guinazu, M Ayerza, E Lozada, A Abadie, A Lalanne, S Fernandez, L Amorosino.

BARBARIANS: G Murphy (Leicester Tigers & Ireland); I Balshaw (Gloucester & England), S Williams (Toulon), S Mapusua (London Irish & Samoa), J Lewsey (London Wasps & England); L McAlister (Sale & New Zealand), C Whitaker (Leinster & Australia); C Dermody (London Irish & New Zealand), S Bruno (Sale & France), BJ Botha (Ulster & South Africa), C Jack (Saracens & New Zealand), P Tito (Cardiff), J Collins (Toulon & New Zealand), P Waugh (Waratahs & Australia, capt), R Elsom (Leinster & Australia).

Replacements: S Brits (Stormers & South Africa), G Somerville (Gloucester & New Zealand), M Corry (Leicester & England), S Betsen (London Wasps & France), J Marshall (Saracens & New Zealand), G Jackson (Saracens), B Blair (Cardiff Blues & New Zealand).