11 Jun 2007

Flying Fiji winger banned from rugby for three months

10:42 am on 11 June 2007

The Fiji rugby winger, Rupeni Caucau, has been banned from all levels of rugby for three months after testing positive for cannabis.

Caucau failed a drug test after playing for Agen in the French Top 14 competition against Montauban in March.

The suspension will rule him out of an expected return to the Fiji side against Australia A in the Pacific Nations Cup but he will be free to play at the World Cup.

Caucau was banned for playing for Fiji for 12 months after failing to pitch for a World Cup qualifier against Samoa last year.

An illness also saw him lose as much as 10kg and miss three months of the recent European season.

The winger is on vacation in his village in the North of Fiji Islands and could not be reached for comment.