Henrieko De Klerk

FOUR FRENCH WORLD CUP PLAYERS UNDERWENT DOPING TESTS ON WEDNESDAY, THREE DAYS AHEAD OF THEIR FIRST MATCH OF THE TOURNAMENT, A MEMBER OF THE FRENCH STAFF SAID.

The four, who were not named, were woken just before 07.00 local time (06.00 GMT) at their base in Croydon, south London, to give urine and blood tests, the official told AFP.

The tests were carried out by the UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD), which World Rugby has put in charge of the hunt for banned substances at the World Cup which starts Friday.

French players have been chosen for tests four times in the past two months. France's first World Cup match is against Italy at Twickenham on Saturday.