Oh look another SA steroid shock...

This follows tests conducted on pupils at 18 of the country's top schools in which 21 out of 130 pupils - or roughly one in six - tested positive for a variety of illegal steroids .

One school has now set aside R100000 for more tests while a doctor said he was treating at least 12 schoolboys a month to wean them off steroids.

In a recent newsletter, Michaelhouse principal Guy Pearson told parents of concerns about "the size of schoolboys who we tend to come up against in our fixtures and festivals".

Commissioned independently by various schools, Johannesburg company Drug Detection International sent urine samples for analysis to a forensic laboratory in the US. They found positive results for:

Two pupils of St Albans, Pretoria;
Three pupils of King Edward VII in Johannesburg; and
Found that one boy from St John's in Johannesburg had twice the amount of testosterone levels for a teenager his age.

Fifteen of the other pupils who tested positive were from four private schools in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

At least 12 of these pupils were caught with banned steroids in their possession.

The company declined to disclose the names of the other schools at which pupils tested positive for steroids.

Dr Jon Patricios, sports physician and president of the SA Sports Medicine Association, said there was "massive abuse" of steroids among pupils.

"There's a big emphasis on making it into the Craven Week sides. If you don't make it into Craven Week, you are really lost in the rugby wilderness, because there are no prospects of bursaries and selection for provincial teams."

He said parents were increasingly complaining of finding steroids in their sons' possession, adding: "Some say they can't believe the sudden changes in the size (of their sons)."

He said he was seeing at least a dozen parents a month on steroid-related issues involving their children.

"A pupil told me that half of the first-team rugby squad at his school were on steroids."

Testosterone - an anabolic steroid which produces increased levels of strength, endurance and muscular development - can cause cardiovascular disease.

The side effects of steroids include high blood pressure, heart enlargement, high cholesterol, liver and kidney damage, infertility and acne, while the psychological effects include aggression and depression.

Other schools involved in the initial round of tests and where boys tested negative included St David's Marist Inanda in Johannesburg and Pretoria Boys' High, where 10 players in the school's first rugby teams were tested. The school has 1550 pupils and 28 rugby teams.

St Albans have also slapped boys who test positive with "community service" whereby they serve as linesmen in some cases.

Principal Tom Hamilton said: "What we have discovered ... was that it was not about gaining an advantage or cheating. It was all about boys wanting to have big bodies and to look good when they put their shirts on."

Schools are charged R1500 to have a single pupil tested. In cases where pupils test positive, their parents will have to cough up for follow-up tests.

St Albans has set aside R100000 for drug testing over the next three years.

Drug Detection International said that pupils of other top schools in the country, including St Stithians, Kearsney and Hilton College, as well as Jeppe Boys' High, St Benedicts and Clifton Boys High, will be tested over the next two months.

Owner Riaan de Vries said at least 60% of those who tested positive were sportsmen, while the other 40% wanted to improve their image.

The SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport, which conducts anti-doping sessions at schools around the country, said it would, for the first time, be conducting tests for steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs at schools.

From next year, schools in KwaZulu-Natal which are planning to become accredited to the Discovery SharkSmart Schools of Excellence programme, to which Hilton College and Michaelhouse are affiliated, will have to consent to pupils being tested for steroids.

"The unfortunate thing with all of this is that we test rugby players and oarsmen, but a lot of the boys on these steroids were not sportsmen. It's a vanity thing."

Bobby Soobrayan, Director-General of the Department of Basic Education, said the department had not noted steroid use as a serious problem.

Grant Nupen, principal of Bishops in Cape Town, said his school conducted random drug tests for recreational drugs, but not steroids.

Johan Volsteedt, principal of Grey College in Bloemfontein, said they were finalising a policy on testing for steroids.

 Anyone caught should be banned from Rugby. Any Bursurs recieved should be taken away. 

This is ridiculous because it is giving those taking steroids an advantage over those that do not.

Given that professional rugby players cant get away with taking steroids, some of the cheats in the School will get all the oppertunity in the future- but will not be able to rely on steroids in the professional setup.

Poi-e. I like your sarcasm in the title but this comes as no shock to anyone. I told you long ago that most those kids in SA schools are on the stuff.

Lets see NZL follow suit and put aside a budget for school kids to be tested. Bet they wont have the balls to face the truth. What, do you think Bok rugby players are all just steroid infused monsters but the AB's get to the same size by eating chicken and pasta?? Haha, stay away from those types of digs until you are certain your carpet is clean!

 Cue predictable "But what about New Zealand?" reaction....what a shame.

 None in the Cape?

 Frankly I'm not sure what's worse, that fact that steroid abuse takes place or the slap on the wrist with a wet bus ticket reaction from some of the schools...

St Albans have also slapped boys who test positive with "community service" whereby they serve as linesmen in some cases.

What makes you think so high and mighty about your Kiwi school boys being prone from taking steroids? Please don't be so naive!

Is there any reason why the source and link to the original article was not quoted? Was it because it is an article that was published almost two years ago? This is the link to the article:

www.timeslive.co.za/sport/rugby/2011/05/30/school-rugby-hit-by-steroid-scandal

School rugby hit by steroid scandal

A shocking survey has revealed that schoolboy rugby players are using illegal anabolic steroids.

This follows tests conducted on pupils at 18 of the country's top schools in which 21 out of 130 pupils ......................................

..... or is it to cover up the stories about the All Blacks being the original streroids users in the 1990's?  www.espnscrum.com/newzealand/rugby/story/154021.html  Makes one wonder if the so-called food poisoning of the 1995 All Blacks in the RWC final was not indeed the after effects of steroids abuse.

Or is it perhals to cover up the seriousness of steroids abuse all over NZ? tvnz.co.nz/rugby-league-news/kiwis-urged-use-banned-substances-mayhew-5337461

Published: 6:42PM Friday February 08, 2013 Source: ONE Sport 

New Zealand athletes have been encouraged to take illegal substances by their Australian trainers, the New Zealand Rugby League team doctor confirmed today.

An Australian Crime Commission report found use of prohibited performance-enhancing substances was "widespread" in professional sports, as was the level of use of illicit drugs. The report claimed organised crime groups were involved in the distribution of the drugs..............................

Another one:

www.christchurchstar.co.nz/news/phil-musson-was-steroid-kingpin/1826230/

• Kurt Bayer, APNZ
• 12th Apr 2013 8:19 AM

A million-dollar nationwide steroid dealing ring that involved banned medicines being posted around New Zealand has been smashed by police.

The operation's mastermind Christchurch man Phil Musson, a former champion bodybuilder, admitted his role on Wednesday in the district court, in what officials have called a "sophisticated" operation.

Musson, 44, imported anabolic steroids, including nandrolone, as well as anti-oestrogens, thyroid medicine, and synthetic growth hormones from Hong Kong and China between March and July, last year..................

 Well sorry - I guess I missed it what with all the coverage it got on here and SS - check the front page of the planet-rugby forum, that's what brought the story to my attention.  Does the fact the story is 2 years old make it any less shocking?  

But again predictably rather than admit you have a problem you decide to go on the offensive on New Zealand...probably why the problem will never be solved in SA.  And wow the Christchurch star, you really googled far and wide to try and muck rake to attempt a deflection...The fact that you're clearly more offended that a Kiwi posted this rather than it occuring in the first place is frankly laughable, but oh well,l but if you want a more recent reference then fine, anybody can google.

http://www.rugby365.com/article/51657-school-targets-for-drug-dealers

http://www.moneyweb.co.za/moneyweb-business-of-sport/school-rugby-players-to-be-tested-for-steroids

Rugby players at South African sports schools will be tested for steroids and other banned substances, it was reported on Sunday.

According to Rapport newspaper, 18 of 62 children independently tested in the past six months had positive results for drugs so dangerous they could lead to death.

It reported that schedule five anabolic steroids were easily obtainable on the internet, and that people were unaware of the legal implications and health hazards of using them.

The newspaper reported that the SA Institute for Drug Free Sport (Saids) had announced that more than 100 schools would test their pupils for drugs.

Paarl Gymnasium would send its entire under 19A group to be tested for doping, even though it had not had problems with steroids, its rugby head Deon Gerber told Rapport.

The Hawks national spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko told the newspaper they were aware of the problem

http://www.citypress.co.za/news/horse-steroids-for-your-kids/

City Press was able to buy illegal horse steroids marketed to local teenagers on the internet via sites like Facebook – even though they can kill humans and are not legal even for animal use in South Africa.

The transactions formed part of a six-week investigation into how the anabolic steroid trade has exploded in South Africa and how young South Africans are being targeted as a lucrative market in an international criminal trade.

Just this week, Zane Botha (24), who is the captain of the Tuks rugby team and was previously contracted to the Blue Bulls, admitted to having used anabolic steroids and to being bust in a drug test in January.

Making contact with dealers using Facebook as a marketing platform – on which scores of teenage South Africans actively sought anabolic steroids – we were able to buy a variety of illegal substances.

Some were highly regulated human anabolic steroids which are supposed to be supplied only with a doctor’s prescription.

But most alarming was the ease with which we were able to access the supply of two varieties of horse steroids – neither of which is legal for use on animals.

City Press was able to buy a 10ml bottle of the injectable horse steroid trenbolone for R500.

Its extremely high testosterone content means trenbolone is extremely dangerous for humans.

Both a veterinarian and a sports physician told City Press the drug can dramatically increase the risk of heart attacks or strokes.

It also causes a user’s testicles to shrink, lowers sperm production and causes breast growth in men.

But trenbolone and another horse steroid, equipoise (also illegal for veterinary use in South Africa), regularly top the price lists of online steroid merchants doing business in South Africa.

Professor Vinny Naidoo, the director of the University of Pretoria Veterinary Science faculty’s Biomedical Research Centre, says equipoise, or boldenone undecylenate, is probably even more dangerous than trenbolone.

It can cause fractures because of weakened bones and an abnormally high red blood cell count.

City Press bought the trenbolone from a website called Evolve Anabolics.

The site appears to have been taken down during the course of our investigation and the domain is registered through a specialist company in the US designed to protect the identity of the site owner.

Through the site, we made contact with the company’s representative, calling himself Rob, on Facebook. He then emailed us a price list of illegal sub-stances.

We also bought a bottle of fifty 10mg Dianabol tablets for R190.

Dianabol, a human anabolic steroid, is popular with schoolboys because it doesn’t remain in the system for long.

Within a week of making the deposit, plus R70 for postage, and sending proof of payment to “Rob”, our parcel was shipped from Gordon’s Bay in the Western Cape to Cape Town.

We also bought a 10ml bottle of injectable Dianabol from another trader, Leviathan Gear Factory (LGF) for R400.

This person advertises himself as an “online fitness instructor and anbolic coach” on Facebook.

LGF initially got cold feet – coinciding with the arrest of an alleged international steroid kingpin, Brian Wainstein, in Cape Town in January – but about two weeks later told us that the parcel was on its way.

The payment for what was described as injectable Dianabol – which arrived with no labelling on the bottle – had to be deposited into an Absa bank account held by a “Mrs A Fourie”.

Neither Evolve nor Leviathon Gear Factory asked whether the buyers or users were 18 years or older, or whether users had a prescription.

Attempts to trace the identities of those behind the bank accounts were fruitless.

A senior Hawks investigator said it was believed many supplement stores were fronts for illegal steroid sales and that several were under investigation.

He said: “We are also looking at several websites that sell steroids locally. We know of at least 10.”

The CEO of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport, Khalid Galant, said the World Anti-Doping Agency’s new code would see agencies cooperating to crack down on international syndicates.

Don't worry guys he's just trying to scrape the oldest and smallest dirt off SA schoolboy rugby because the Kiwi's haven't had a good weekend in the Super 15! 

Poe-e the big difference is we are doing something about it. What are you oaks doing - I mean other than cover ups and denials.

Shezza I do note the timing and like you draw the obvious conclusions.

Our kiwi friends are taking this one hard and one can only try to encourage them.e.g. they did win one match (Blues versus Canes) and of course there is always next week where they can try and do better. Maybe they will have fewer Oz teams to face and play more local derbies?

Beeno the compassionate at work!

PS - please also try and be very kind to my good friend rooitwit (the kiwi wannabee and crusties supporter). He is taking that all very hard. Fancy the Force whipping the crusties - real writing on wall stuff for the kiwis.

Oopps please ignore that last sentence kiwis.  

LOL, that is low so low you would think this is snake-shit low.  But we know why the attack, it is always good to do something to keep the truth hidden.

There is a thick rumour that Ritchie is not playing because he cannot take the risk!  "Medicine" for old age and "rebuilding" is the problem they say..

 and here I was told only last wek that it's just genetics and Gym that mkes these kids so big...

Just look at the wrists of a man in relation to the muscle on the bones and you will know without a doubt that no genetics is at play - not even phuzamandla (power drink) can do that. Phuzamandla is what they gave us in the prison to help with diet because the food was crap.

Ek thanks for the opening. Sean Fitzpatrick once said our competitive advantage lay in our big athletic men.

Now putting two and two together it has to be apparent that the kiwi would use  drugs on a larger scale than us as they need to compete.

No they hide it all under the carpet as the sneaky kiwis they are. Buts lets not be too hard on them this week. (Oz 3 Kiwis nil!!! - I only mention this in case Ek doesnt know what I am talking about))

 Surprising to see so many SA's claiming a moral victory for a good Aussie performance over the weekend...par for the course with the filthy drug riddled state of your rugby.  Funny that with all the roids floating around SA you continue to be the All Blacks bitches.

poi-e your head is not right. There is just as much evidence of steroid/drug abuse in NZ as there is in SA, yet somehow you are pointing fingers at SA. Actually, it is a worldwide problem, just ask Lance. You're obviously not the sharpest poster here! Here is some poi-e logic "My team is doing drugs, but so is yours, therefore you are an idiot!" Wonderfull logic!! 

Ok poi you can try to insult me now for hitting the nail on the head. It will of course be like being insulted by a three year old....but hey, i'm a sport, bring it on!

Poepis djy's 'n knopkop. (Poei you are a knucklehead) who remains with a beam in the eye!  Sad really that one has to live with such a monkey on your back.

And why do you look at the splinter in your brother's eye, and not notice the beam which is in your own eye?

Hey don't shoot the messenger here, these are reports from your own media, if you don't want to admit your school boy rugby has a serious problem (again as highlighted by your own media) that's your problem, seems it's easier for you lot to bury your heads in the sand - and that's a real shame...

BlueBok feel free to post all this 'evidence' you have...

Poi-e

With due respect - you are totally overboard with yourtalk of durg-riddled rugby.   The problem was that Studies revealed problems at scholl boy leverl - but did it filter through toprofessional rugby?   The last player who on Springbok level wa found wanting was Ackemann and that was years ago.    A steroids freak like Lomu is a case in point.  Lomu did not realize  that kidney failure reuslts from excessiive Steroid usage and he is paying the price for it now.

There is really objectively speaking a problem here - in South Africa a problem has been identified on school level and is being addressed professionally.   The question remains wide open - has any similar studies being undertaken in New Zealand - and if not - why not?   Drugtaking in sport is a universal problem - not confined to certain nations only.

Lets not go overboard on this issue - and try and e objective about it.. 

 Maybe - but you clearly have a well documented issue with performance enhacing drug abuse in school boy rugby.  NZ thankfully doesn't.

BTW feel free to post up the results of any failed drug test by Jonah Lomu in all his years of international rugby Mike...until then your opinion on Jonah remains just that.

I don't for a moment deny there is a problem with steroids in our schools. But our media blowing the whistle on it, is testament to our free media! Just because your media does not air their dirty laundry, doesn't mean nobody in New Zealand is wearing clothes! South Africa is a third world country and half our population is unable to afford food, let alone steroids! Yet we have a problem. I can guarantee it is the same, if not worse in NZ, due to the average household being in a much more favourable position to afford the "Luxury" of steroids. Those schoolboy's, and anyone else using any performance enhancing drugs, should be banned from all sport for life!  

As for evidence, I am way too lazy to surf the web looking for evidence, but I am sure one of the posters here will oblige.

Oh right, so when you said there was evidence of comparable levels of drug abuse in New Zealand you were talking out of your arse...I understand.

In the interests of objectivity here is an article on the same subject from some of NZ's free media...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/8328920/Drug-Free-Sport-NZ-mulls-high-school-testing

You understand when I talk out of my arse??? Who knew you could talk fart? I take it all back, you do impress me!!!!

Not sure why you posted that last link, all it says is that they plan to possibly start testing in schools. So basically, the reason NZ'ers have not found any problems with steroid use in schools, is because they haven't bothered to test school children.

poi-e I know you are just trying to get a conversation going here, and that is all good in my book. I am pretty certain you know the problem is world wide, a world that unfortunately includes New Zealand.

Well given some of the shit you're spraying on this thread I'm unsure if I'm communicating with your face or your arsehole. But anyways you made the claim "There is just as much evidence of steroid/drug abuse in NZ as there is in SA" but claim 'laziness' when asked to back it up...let's just take that as a retraction on your part.

The issue may be worldwide but it is certainly more prevalent in the republic.

Regarding the link - I was asked what NZ was doing about drug testing in NZ, I produced a link.

Lets have some facts here. how about this:

A former New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) official has accused two former All Blacks of taking steroids during the 1990s.

Jack Ralston, who was the NZRU's head of sales and marketing between 1997 and 1999, has made the shocking allegation in his forthcoming biography, The Sports Insider, reports The Press newspaper. Ralston has not named the players, who he said had told him in confidence, but revealed that they were "smaller guys who needed to put on muscle and bulk who were under pressure".

"People might be stunned by this but I know at least two All Blacks in the 1990s who responded to demands that they bulk up by taking steroids," he wrote. He added that the players may now feel they can speak publicly about taking the performance enhancing substances.

The All Blacks' coach at the 1999 Rugby World Cup, John Hart, told the newspaper that he had "never heard" of players taking steroids in the 1990s. "I never saw it on my watch. It would surprise me greatly," Hart said. "It's very easy to make those comments. From my knowledge, [there was] none at all."

Former captain Taine Randell echoed Hart's comments and slammed Ralston's decision not to name the players in question. "I know Jack," he said. "He is a good man. But for him to come out with those comments and not name names is gutless. He has cast aspersion on a lot of people and I can say that during my time with the team I saw none of that."

Ralston has since defended his book and its claims. "I am saddened that Taine is upset and he would be the last person I would point the finger at as he was big," he said. "It was the smaller guys who needed to put on muscle and bulk who were under pressure and for rugby to think this did not go on is silly. They have their heads buried in the soil."

A common fault with kiwis? Hahahahaha

Pooie n are probably not the only counry using steroids in an effort to match the big Sa forwards:

There's been much talk this Six Nations about the giants of the rampaging Welsh back line - two inches and 11.8kg bigger on average than their English opposition a fortnight ago, the team as a whole average a staggering 107.7kg (16st 13lbs).(NOTE - AS a WHOLE!!!!)

But just how much bigger are international rugby players than their counterparts from days gone by and what effect is it having on the game's tactics, aesthetics and injuries?

With the consent of some very kind people at Twickenham's Museum of Rugby, I've dug out statistics for every England team every decade since 1962 and spun them into detailed comparisons. The results make very interesting reading indeed.

We'll get the thoughts of Shane Williams - at 5ft 7in and 80kg a brilliant anachronism among the modern-day behemoths - on what rugby's growth spurt is doing to the sport. But first, the numbers.
 

I've compared the England XV to the equivalent week in the Five/Six Nations of 50/40/30/20/10 years ago, rather than the biggest or smallest of that particular year.

Why England, rather than any of the other teams in the tournament? Partly because the information was accessible, partly because the nationality feels less important than the patterns revealed. Think of England as an example, rather than the exception.

Shane Williams, Adam Jones and Alun Wyn Jones of Wales sing their national anthem prior to kick-off during the IRB 2011 Rugby World Cup. Photo: Getty

We'll begin with the average weight and height of the backs. Over the last half-century, bulk has increased by a remarkable 16.3kg per man - more than two and a half stone. Even the 1992 Grand Slam back line of Will Carling, Jeremy Guscott and Rory Underwood were almost a stone and a half lighter than the England backs who will play France this weekend. As for height, today's nine to 15 are almost three inches taller than Dickie Jeeps's boys of 1962.

1962: 78kg, 1.77m
1972: 82.8kg, 1.81m
1982: 79kg, 1.77m
1992: 85.7kg, 1.81m
2002: 92.4kg, 1.81m
2012: 94.3kg, 1.84m

If the class of 1982 looks particularly small, it was. That's what happens when you have 5ft 7in Les Cusworth at fly-half and a winger in Mike Slemen who weighed under 12 stone.

What about the average weight and height of the forwards? Today's pack averages three and a quarter stone heavier than their equivalents of 1962. They're almost three and three quarter stone heavier than the Peter Winterbottoms, Maurice Colcloughs and Peter Wheelers who beat France 27-15 in Paris in February 1982.

Even in the last decade, the average weight has gone up by 2.8kg a man, while today's forwards would tower three and a half inches over the pack that drew 3-3 with Scotland in 1962.

1962: 92.5kg, 1.83m
1972: 97.75kg, 1.89m
1982: 89.9kg, 1.86m
1992: 106.5kg, 1.88m
2002: 110.1kg, 1.86m
2012: 112.9kg, 1.92m

If we combine those figures to give us the average weight and height of an England player, the trends are even clearer.

Someone who pulls on the white shirt in 2012 is on average almost three stone heavier and three inches taller than their predecessors of 50 years ago. They are well over a stone heavier and an inch taller than the XV which completed a second successive Grand Slam in 1992 and have 4.5lbs and almost an inch on the team of 2002 that went on to win the World Cup 18 months later.

1962: 85.7kg, 1.80 m
1972: 90.7kg, 1.85 m
1982: 89.9kg, 1.82 m
1992: 96.8kg, 1.85m
2002: 101.9kg, 1.86m
2012: 104kg, 1.88m

Now let's talk tactics. What changes does Shane Williams think rugby's size explosion has triggered?

"It's a completely different game to even three or four years ago," he told me. "The players are getting bigger again, even from where they were in 2008. That clearly affects your tactics. You have to adapt your game-plan to the players you've got and the ones you will be facing.

"It's meant that teams have to be a lot more direct. Defenders are just as fast as they used to be but are two stone heavier. That makes it far harder to get round defences.

"It's why the territory game is now so huge 9Its why meyer insists on a flyhalf who has a good tactical kicking game and wanted lambie to get there- wonder if ou maaaike and the boys are getting a glimmer?). There are fewer line breaks (As snapster wisely said), so why use needless energy trying to run the ball back from your own 22? The thinking is that you're better kicking it away and competing for the ball a further 40 metres downfield instead."
Williams, now part of the BBC's team for the Six Nations, believes the trend is impacting on the type of talents a modern player requires.

"As a back, the skill-set you have to learn now has changed. Because the game is now so physical, we will now train far harder on the less glamorous things, like being strong in contact and learning how to off-load in the tackle, rather than making a line break and then passing."

What about injuries? Each year, the Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Players' Association conduct an injury audit of England and Premiership players. When the most recent report was released this January, Dr Simon Kemp, the RFU's head of sports medicine, said that there is "no evidence that the injury risk in the professional game is increasing".

Those within the game don't always see things quite the same way - among them Williams.

"Some of the collisions are like car crashes," he says. "When you get George North running flat out into a Manu Tuilagi, the forces involved are incredible. You get some horrific injuries from contact. You can hear half the impacts from the touchline."
After the last Lions tour, the squad's vastly experienced doctor James Robson - also Scotland's team doctor - warned that the size of players was forcing rugby towards a "watershed" moment.

"People are trying to run through the opposition, rather than around them," he said. "My hope is that coaches recognise that and we get a little bit smaller and faster and more skilful - that players win the space rather than the collision."

And so we come to the aesthetics of the game. Is rugby a better spectacle for the growing pains of its combatants, or are we in danger of losing finesse to fitness?
"It's a difficult one," admits Williams, scorer of 58 tries in 85 Tests. "What you don't see so much now is the champagne rugby, the seven-a-side rugby that people loved to watch.

"I still enjoy watching it - I used to enjoy the physical stuff, the big hits - but you won't get many 30-30 games at international level any more. Teams won't get bullied like they used to."

Will there always be room for the smaller players to stand on the shoulders of the giants, for a Williams or Leigh Halfpenny to dance and step and dart?

"I hope so," adds Williams. "Ask any big forward and they'll tell you that the players they hate tackling the most are the small nippy guys. But they may become fewer and farther between.

"It's getting harder for smaller players and it's a little bit strange seeing a Welsh back line with almost everyone over 6ft."

The bigger players today have the speed, skills etc that make them outplay the smaller guys. Not too much future for very small backline players. They will become an increasing  rarity.

Forwards also - forget about wee brussouw and stick with Louw. Its all so obvious.

But how is it that players are getting so big. In the case of the welsh and others like nz it has to be drugs. Only Saffas are this big naturally.

How about this ex Nz herald:

Drug Free Sport leader blames obsession with looking good and worries about spillover into pro and amateur ranks.

An increasing obsession with appearance and body shape has led to a spike in the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs in gymnasiums, the head of New Zealand's anti-doping agency says.

Drug Free Sport New Zealand chief executive Graeme Steel said a drug culture was developing in gyms which could spill over into professional and amateur sport. (note ho wthe yput it = "could". Bwahahahahahaha)

He told a parliamentary committee yesterday that New Zealand did not appear to have the same rate of doping among its sportspeople as in Australia, where a damning report this month revealed widespread use of banned substances such as peptides and hormones. (Did not apear he says. Come clean kiwi!!)

But he said steroid use was increasing among gym users, mostly out of an obsession with looking good.

"There's seemingly now a much broader part of the community that is interested in getting bigger and looking better. And that's where steroids work."

Steroids were legal to use, but not to import or prescribe, Mr Steel said.

Mr Steel said sportspeople were sharing gyms with steroid users such as body-builders, and could be drawn into substance abuse.

"The danger for us is that [body-building] brings more steroids into the country, into the market, and athletes are in those same gymnasia and there's a potential that they may deliberately or not deliberately get involved with that. (Not that they have of course!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

"[Body-builders] are probably the heaviest users and therefore part of the distribution network for those drugs. If they are using, then, as with many other drugs, it may be the next step is them selling in the gym alongside rugby players and athletes and cyclists. There is a potential for that to flow," Mr Steel said. (Only potential but not that its happening of course!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Customs confirmed that seizures of steroids and gamma-aminobutyric acid (Gaba, used for toning muscles) had increased at the border.

In 2011, 13.5kg of steroids and 63kg of Gaba were seized, compared with just 190 grams of steroids and 1.1kg of Gaba in 2008.

Gym operators told the Herald that steroid-users were mostly confined to body-building or weight-lifting facilities, but the drug was sometimes found in mainstream fitness clubs.

Club Physical chief executive Paul Richards said he was forced to ban a husband and wife from his Te Atatu branch because they were openly dealing in steroids. "They seem to go from gym to gym and get banned from each one. It's short-term thinking; all they want to do is get big. When you're in your 20s, you're not thinking long-term. It's all ego and vanity without any sort of future," he said.

NZ Muscle Nutrition and Bodybuilding general manager Gavin Makins said it was difficult to detect steroid use because it was mostly underground.

Dr Nigel Harris, a senior lecturer in sports and exercise science at the Auckland University of Technology, said: "When you are dealing with any drug that is designed to interfere with the body's natural hormonal processes, you set off a veritable cascade of hormonal events, and a lot of those aren't even known."

Dark power

* Anabolic steroids influence the body's natural hormonal processes.

* Bodybuilders, sportspeople and athletes take them to lift performance and physical appearance.

* Side-effects include shrinking of the testicles, severe acne and aggression or "roid rage".

* Steroid abuse also implicated in cardiovascular disease, liver damage, infertility and loss of libido and mental illness. In some cases users have died

Get off the steriods kiws its bad for ya health and i wouldhate anything to happen to ya!

It id like taking candy from a baby! The article YOU posted says that New Zealand has done no testing, please explain why there would be any articles for me to find on the web confirming that New Zealanders had tested positive for steroid use, when you have provided the proof that there has been no testing. It is impossible for a positive test result to come back, when there has been no test!   

You keep your head in the sand there champ! 

Ummm - I post an article that says that there's been been a lack of drug testing in NZ and you're celebrating the fact that it completely nukes your claim that there's just as much evidence of drug abuse in New Zealand as there is in SA....If you were any less intelligent BlueBok you'd have to be watered twice a week.

Ummm - I post an article that says that there's been been a lack of drug testing in NZ and you're celebrating the fact that it completely nukes your claim that there's just as much evidence of drug abuse in New Zealand as there is in SA....If you were any less intelligent BlueBok you'd have to be watered twice a week.

poi-e

I do not believe in generalized statements.   In SA the matter was followied up on a comprehensive basis in schools and is being addressed on a professional basis.   From all that I have read above and elsewhere there is a lot of comments on usage of drugs in gyms - but there is no indication that there was ever in New Zealand a comprehensive study made at school level.

I do not really believe in generalized statements and I think that a similar study as made in SA would clear the air comprehensively.  At this stage it is merely assumptions made about the issue.

Hi there poie me mate, good attempt at a wind up and you do show some promise. Try in future not to pick on a subject that will backfire on you as abdly as this one did.

The wind up (A vital board tactic) kiwis should best be left to more experienced and intelligent posters; of which alas there are few and none in the kiwi ranks of course!

Beeno mentoring amateur kiwi wind up "artists" 

Where are the parents eh! Haven't lived in nz for a long while now but i dont think steroid use amonst students is an issue... Their all too busy getting high on crack lol.

I'm suprised saffa's can afford roids, I thought you guys were all broke as fuck!

Btw, i'd be suprised if you wern't all for all this roid use beano... After all the bigger they get the better they are at running straight which is all you hope to see when you switch on the telle... Can't have any this passing, side steping, dummy running, netball shit eh Beano!

CM 

     I for one have no proof than drugs have infiltrated all all levels of rugby.

     Yes many have been caught using and many have been falsely accused.

     But to single out Lomu without proof is a bit much.

    Sure he was a big guy but did he not have the physic of the SS Islanders from which his blood line originated.

    Kidney failure is common to many folks who are not users.

    If I am wrong please supply accredited documentation to back up your claim.

    He was an outstanding rugby player and I believe many rugby folks agree with me plus I do not believe that he should be included in this (drug user cheats) debate. 

    Rest in peace Jonah.