New Zealand schoolboy rugby players to be tested for drugs
For the first time in New Zealand school sports history, players at this year’s National 1st XV semi-finals will be subject to anti-doping testing, reports Scotty Stevenson.
The New Zealand Secondary School Sports Council (NZSSSC) and Drug Free Sport NZ (DFSNZ) have advised school principals of their intention to carry out anti-doping testing at this year’s 1st XV national top four tournament – an unprecedented move in high school sport in New Zealand.
Yesterday, principals of the top rugby schools in the country were advised of the plan via an email from NZSSSC CEO Garry Carnachan. One spoken to yesterday said the plan poses “a consenting nightmare” given players are in some cases as young as 14 or 15.
In an accompanying letter from DFSNZ Chief Executive Graeme Steele, it is noted that players under 18 will have the ability to be accompanied by parents or other representatives during all elements of the test. But DFSNZ says it does not require consent to test athletes who are participating in any sport that is a signee to New Zealand Sport’s Anti-Doping Rules – and New Zealand Rugby is.
A spokesperson said that while it is the first time DFSNZ has tested in a secondary schools event, they can test any athlete of any age at any time and have in the past tested school-aged athletes.
It seems clear that there is a genuine worry that some high school rugby players in New Zealand could be taking banned substances, either due to a lack of education around “extensive and uncontrolled supplement use” or, worse, through the use of anabolic steroids.
The NZSSSC points to research from Otago University that says there is knowledge that anabolic steroid use is occurring in “comparable environments overseas, notably South Africa and the UK” and says DFSNZ has identified elements within the schools rugby environment which indicate “a significant potential for doping to occur.”
Steele adds in his letter that he is “hopeful our approach will receive the full support of the school community and all parents who see sport as a valuable tool for the development of their child.”
The NZSSSC says it supports an education approach, but also knows that as New Zealand Rugby is has committed to New Zealand Sport’s Anti-doping rules. If DFSNZ undertakes tests that return positive for banned substances, they will have to follow the New Zealand Sport Anti-Doping processes accordingly.
It is understood that that schools will all have to go through a ‘Good Clean Sports – Youth’ workshop before the national tournament, which is scheduled to take place in Palmerston North in September. This gives schools little more than a month to schedule the workshop, address the myriad issues around parental consent, and learn about the specific substances that will be tested for.
According to DFSNZ, those workshops have been available to schools since February and, remarkably, only five of the 24 schools still in contention for the national Top 4 tournament have taken up the chance to take part since that time. According to sources, one high profile rugby school said it wanted nothing to do with the workshop or the education programme around it.
The Top 4 testing plan, as outlined, will limit the range of substances being tested for, and will “focus on substances with long term health consequences for adolescents and limits the risk of inadvertent positive tests.” Only players from boys’ schools will be tested at the tournament, which also features co-ed and girls’ school teams.
This approach was championed by Carnachan in his email to principals, in which he says, “Given the potential for a player to test positive and the high stakes of doing so, NZSSSC has worked extensively with DFSNZ and NZR to ensure that the risk of such an outcome for those who are not setting out to break the rules is minimised.”
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments