Serge Blanco, the president of the French National League, reacted furiously to former French coach Pierre Berbizier's claims that the rugby authorities were doing nothing to combat rampant drug-taking within the sport.

Blanco, who was probably France's finest full back, and played in the 1987 World Cup final alongside Berbizier, also refuted his former team-mate's suggestions that the hectic fixture schedule arranged by Blanco and his organisation had led players to resort to drugs.

"These claims are scandalous," Blanco stormed. "We were the first along with cycling to impose drug-testing without waiting for the sports minister or the French Rugby Federation to tell us to act.

"I have never said there are no drugs in the sport and the day somebody fails a test he will pay for it severely," he added.

Blanco commented that the fault in the seemingly endless season lay not with him but with the European and world authorities.

"We have always called for a clear break between the seasons but until the European and world authorities wake up to the need for this there will be no resolution of the problem," he said.

Blanco also expressed his incredulity that Berbizier had waited until he left his post at Narbonne to make his allegations.

"If he was so convinced that drug-taking was rife in rugby it is very serious that he did not inform us at the time he was a coach," Blanco said.

Berbizier made the comments in an interview in Saturday's L'Equipe magazine and said that France had been hiding the extent of their problems by launching blistering accusations at the Southern Hemisphere countries.

"Drugs have become a reality in the championship," Berbizier said.

"The drugs players take nowadays are stronger than just creatine (legal in most countries but illegal in France) because the players have to put up with such an infernal fixture schedule and the physical demands are too much.

"We deploy an ostrich-like policy in which we point the finger at the Southern Hemisphere when what we should be doing is cleaning up in front of our own door," Berbizier said.

Meanwhile, suspended England skipper Martin Johnson is set to lead his country in the Six Nations Championship opener against Wales on February 3rd.

Johnson, who is serving a 35day ban, will retain the job when England coach Clive Woodward announces his Six Nations squad later this week.

Woodward revealed yesterday that he never considered stripping Johnson of leadership duties, despite a five-week suspension handed out by English RFU disciplinary chiefs for a stamping and punching incident in the English Cup match against Saracens.

"Martin will be named as captain of the squad when it is announced on Tuesday or Wednesday," Woodward said. "It is a great honour to captain England, and Martin is doing an exceptional job."

Argentina win Punta del Este Sevens tournament

Argentina beat New Zealand 26-21 in the final of the Sevens tournament in Punta Del Este, Uruguay, yesterday, watched by 15,000 spectators. The Pumas and the All Blacks used the tournament as a warm-up for the World Cup Sevens which will take place in Mar del Plata, Argentina, from January 26th to 28th.