Substance abuse happens but not at Leinster, says coach O’Connor

The use of sleeping pill and energy drinks ‘cocktails’ may be a problem among rugby players in the southern hemisphere, but Leinster head coach Matt O’Connor says it is not an issue in this part of the world.

Reports from New Zealand yesterday revealed that two All Blacks, Israel Dagg and Corey Jane, had mixed sleeping pills with energy drinks while on a night out just 72 hours before the World Cup quarter-final against Argentina three years ago.

The revelation follows reports that a New Zealand rugby league side used a similar cocktail at the code’s World Cup in the UK earlier this year and the use – and misuse — of prescribed drugs has assumed priority status among rugby officials Down Under.