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.