First ever dope tests at Rugby World Cup

PARIS – French and South African players were subjected to drug tests on Monday evening, a first for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, sources said.

The French players were blood tested on their return home from Saturday’s quarter-final win over the All Blacks in Cardiff. The International Rugby Board (IRB) had been hestitant before finally deciding to conduct doping tests during a World Cup.France second behind All Blacks PARIS – France leapt into second place in the rugby rankings issued on Monday after their 20-18 victory over New Zealand in their World Cup quarter-final.New Zealand remain top despite the upset in Cardiff last Saturday but only 1.25 points ahead of the French, according to the International Rugby Board’s world rankings.South Africa remain third and Argentina fourth ahead of their semi-final at the Stade de France on Sunday.Agentines shortlisted for Player of Year award PARIS – Argentines Juan Martin Hernandez and Felipe Contepomi are on the five-man shortlist announced on Monday for the IRB World Player of the Year award.If either were successful it would be the first time a player from Argentina, who have reached their first-ever World Cup semi-final, won the coveted title.France centre Yannick Jauzion, South Africa wing Bryan Habana and New Zealand captain Richie McCaw, who won the award last year, have also been shortlisted.IRB chief calls for Argentina to join Tri-Nations PARIS – World rugby union’s senior administrator has called for Argentina to join an expanded Tri-Nations tournament, saying the Pumas couldn’t be “neglected” any longer.The Pumas have been the darlings of the World Cup where last Sunday’s 19-13 win over Scotland saw them into the semi-finals of rugby’s global showpiece for the first time where they will face South Africa in Paris this Sunday.They do not currently participate in a major annual competition such as the northern hemisphere’s Six Nations or the Tri-Nations, where South Africa, New Zealand and Australia (SANZAR) are currently the only teams involved.Nampa-Reuters and AFPThe International Rugby Board (IRB) had been hestitant before finally deciding to conduct doping tests during a World Cup.France second behind All Blacks PARIS – France leapt into second place in the rugby rankings issued on Monday after their 20-18 victory over New Zealand in their World Cup quarter-final.New Zealand remain top despite the upset in Cardiff last Saturday but only 1.25 points ahead of the French, according to the International Rugby Board’s world rankings.South Africa remain third and Argentina fourth ahead of their semi-final at the Stade de France on Sunday.Agentines shortlisted for Player of Year award PARIS – Argentines Juan Martin Hernandez and Felipe Contepomi are on the five-man shortlist announced on Monday for the IRB World Player of the Year award.If either were successful it would be the first time a player from Argentina, who have reached their first-ever World Cup semi-final, won the coveted title.France centre Yannick Jauzion, South Africa wing Bryan Habana and New Zealand captain Richie McCaw, who won the award last year, have also been shortlisted.IRB chief calls for Argentina to join Tri-Nations PARIS – World rugby union’s senior administrator has called for Argentina to join an expanded Tri-Nations tournament, saying the Pumas couldn’t be “neglected” any longer.The Pumas have been the darlings of the World Cup where last Sunday’s 19-13 win over Scotland saw them into the semi-finals of rugby’s global showpiece for the first time where they will face South Africa in Paris this Sunday.They do not currently participate in a major annual competition such as the northern hemisphere’s Six Nations or the Tri-Nations, where South Africa, New Zealand and Australia (SANZAR) are currently the only teams involved.Nampa-Reuters and AFP