Will my child be drug tested?

Q: Will my child be drug tested?

Possibly. SA Rugby's 2026 tournament standards say drug testing for prohibited substances and methods will be conducted at all SA Rugby tournaments, especially at U18 Craven Week (and the Gold Cup). Testing is done independently by the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS), in a dedicated, lockable doping control room. For a player under 18, a parent or legal guardian, not the coach, must sign the Schedule I: SA Rugby Participation Consent Form, which allows SAIDS to test the player. Not completing this consent means immediate exclusion from the tournament. SA Rugby applies World Rugby Regulation 21 (Anti-Doping), and SAIDS handles any anti-doping rule violation.

Question

Accepted Answer

Possibly. SA Rugby's 2026 tournament standards say drug testing for prohibited substances and methods will be conducted at all SA Rugby tournaments, especially at U18 Craven Week (and the Gold Cup).

Testing is done independently by the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS), in a dedicated, lockable doping control room.
For a player under 18, a parent or legal guardian, not the coach, must sign the Schedule I: SA Rugby Participation Consent Form, which allows SAIDS to test the player.
Not completing this consent means immediate exclusion from the tournament.

SA Rugby applies World Rugby Regulation 21 (Anti-Doping), and SAIDS handles any anti-doping rule violation.