An investigation by\u00a0The Telegraph\u00a0has revealed a dramatic decline in drug testing in\u00a0South Africa\u00a0over the past decade \u2014 a period that has coincided with the Springboks\u2019 rise to sustained global dominance.<\/p>\n
Win 2027 Six Nations tickets<\/a> with ISUZU<\/p>\n According to figures published by the\u00a0World Anti-Doping Agency\u00a0(WADA), the number of rugby drug tests conducted by the\u00a0South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport\u00a0(Saids) fell from 785 in 2015 to just 127 in 2024 \u2014 a drop of more than sixfold.<\/p>\n You can read their full investigation here<\/a>. <\/p>\n The sharp reduction in testing has come during an era in which South Africa secured back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles in 2019 and 2023, cementing their status as the dominant force in Test rugby.<\/p>\n However, South Africa also has the highest number of convicted dopers in the global game over that period. With 89 violations recorded, the country accounts for roughly 20 per cent of all worldwide rugby doping offences.<\/p>\n Among those sanctioned are 2019 World Cup winners\u00a0S\u2019busiso Nkosi\u00a0and\u00a0Elton Jantjies, who were banned in 2024 for three and four years respectively following positive tests.<\/p>\n Current Springbok\u00a0Asenathi Ntlabakanye\u00a0is also facing two doping charges after failing a drugs test last year. His case is due to be heard at the end of next month. He has not been provisionally suspended and has denied any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n Despite the country\u2019s history of violations, testing levels fell further after the Springboks retained the World Cup in 2023, raising fresh questions about oversight during one of the most successful periods in South African rugby history.<\/p>\n You can read their full investigation here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2b50 Save us to your Google Favourites <\/a>for nonstop RUCK content!<\/p>\n RUCK Verdict \u2013 Steve Smith<\/p>\n RUCK editor\u00a0Steve Smith\u00a0said:<\/p>\n The Springboks have built an era of incredible success. For the integrity of the sport, South African rugby now needs transparency and robust testing levels to match its on-field dominance. That\u2019s how you silence doubt \u2014 not just with trophies, but with accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s be absolutely clear \u2014 South Africa\u2019s World Cup wins stand. There is no evidence those triumphs were fuelled by systematic doping.<\/p>\n But perception matters in elite sport. When testing numbers collapse while success soars \u2014 and when your nation leads the world in recorded violations \u2014 it inevitably raises eyebrows.<\/p>\n EDITORS PICKS:<\/p>\n The best rugby players in the world right now updated (Ranked 10-1)<\/p>\n With the Six Nations pausing for its fallow weekend, attention naturally turns to the individuals driving the global game in 2026. Performances over recent months provide the foundation for this ranking, with current form weighted most heavily.<\/p>\n Yet influence still counts, placing the championship\u2019s standout figures alongside their southern hemisphere counterparts in a broader assessment of impact. Here is a ranking of the 10 best players in the world right now.<\/p>\n 10 Ben Earl<\/p>\n The modern back row demands versatility, pace and relentless intensity, and few embody those traits better than Ben Earl. Explosive in contact and tireless in pursuit, he influences every phase whether operating in tight exchanges or attacking space in wider channels.<\/p>\n At Saracens, he has become the emotional and physical heartbeat of the side. His work rate establishes the standard, his impact at the breakdown shifts momentum, and his direct ball-carrying consistently challenges Europe\u2019s strongest defences. Blending the edge of a traditional flanker with the athleticism of a contemporary No 8, he performs both functions at an elite level.<\/p>\n That authority has carried into the international arena. During the autumn campaign and the Six Nations so far he was among England\u2019s most influential figures, setting tempo through intensity and dynamism, and reinforcing his value to Steve Borthwick in contests that required both control and physical edge.<\/p>\n 9 Cheslin Kolbe<\/p>\n Few players polarise opinion quite like Cheslin Kolbe, yet when the stakes are highest his influence is undeniable. While debate occasionally surrounds his club form in Japan, his performances in Test rugby offer a far more compelling measure.<\/p>\n A two-time World Cup winner, he has scored in finals, tormented the British and Irish Lions, and delivered defining moments in green and gold. Space or pressure makes little difference. When tension rises, Kolbe almost invariably matches it.<\/p>\n 8 Finn Russell<\/p>\n Creativity at fly-half rarely comes with such control. Once viewed purely as a maverick, Finn Russell has evolved into a commanding orchestrator who combines invention with authority.<\/p>\n Across the summer he acted as the Lions\u2019 creative axis, shaping their most dangerous passages with ambition and clarity. Whether directing Bath or guiding Scotland through tight Test matches, he possesses the rare ability to swing momentum with a single decision. At his best, Russell does more than manage a game, he dictates its rhythm and narrative.<\/p>\n 7 Matthieu Jalibert<\/p>\n Those who follow the Top 14 have long recognised Matthieu Jalibert\u2019s talent, and his recent Six Nations form has confirmed it on a broader stage. Assured and tactically sharp, he has stepped seamlessly into the fly-half role and threatened defences with crisp distribution and intelligent offloads.<\/p>\n The past year has marked a significant resurgence. Recalled to start against England in the 2025 Six Nations following Romain Ntamack\u2019s suspension, it was his first appearance in the starting XV after declining a bench role during the 2024 Autumn Nations Series. Since then, he has not merely re-established himself but strengthened his standing considerably.<\/p>\n 6 Malcolm Marx<\/p>\n The global benchmark for hookers now belongs to Malcolm Marx. Dynamic in contact, relentless in work rate and destructive at the breakdown, he has reshaped expectations of the position.<\/p>\n Crowned World Rugby Player of the Year, he became only the second hooker after Keith Wood to claim the men\u2019s 15s award and the first since 2001. Starting 11 of South Africa\u2019s 14 Tests last season and scoring five tries, he played a central role in a campaign that saw the Springboks retain the Rugby Championship while suffering just two defeats.<\/p>\n CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n