David Allen (rugby league footballer)
Encyclopedia
David Allen is an English-born Irish
international rugby league
footballer. His position of choice is at second row. David is currently serving a two year ban from rugby league after testing positive for Benzoylecgonine
, a metabolite
of cocaine
in November 2006. He previously played for Wigan Warriors
and Widnes Vikings
.
. In 2005 he made 8 starts for Wigan as well as 15 substitute appearances, he scored is first try for the club in the first Super League
match for 2005 against Salford City Reds
at the JJB Stadium
on 11 February, he finished the season with 4 tries.
Wigan already had several second row forwards in the squad for 2006 such as Gareth Hock
, Danny Tickle
, Harrison Hansen
and when Wigan bought Australian second row Bryan Fletcher
Wigan decided to release David Allen from his contract at the club.
side Widnes Vikings. He was one of 7 ex-Wigan players in the 2006 Widnes side and regularly played in the second row. He played in the 2006 National League 1 Grand Final where Widnes lost 16-29 to Hull Kingston Rovers
. At the end of 2006 his contract with Widnes was not renewed after he was banned from rugby league for taking a banned substance.
after testing positive for Benzoylecgonine a metabolite of cocaine
, Allan argued that he has taken the drugs accidentally and the RFL accepted and only issued the 12 month ban however UK Sport
appealed and asked the RFL to reconsider their punishment and apply the mandatory two-year ban in the World Anti-Doping Code. It was the first appeal lodged by UK Sport against a sanction imposed by a national governing body on an athlete who failed a drugs test.
. He was selected for the 2004 Academy Origin Series and the 2004 England Academy U-18s tour. In 2006 he was selected for the Ireland along with 6 other Widnes players for the World Cup qualifying matches in 2006 and 2007 however due to his drugs ban he will not longer be eligible to play for Ireland until he has served his 2 year ban.
Ireland national rugby league team
The Ireland national rugby league team, known as the Wolfhounds, represent the island of Ireland in rugby league football. The team is organized by Rugby League Ireland and are accredited as an affiliate member of the Rugby League International Federation...
international rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer. His position of choice is at second row. David is currently serving a two year ban from rugby league after testing positive for Benzoylecgonine
Benzoylecgonine
Benzoylecgonine is a topical analgesic and the main metabolite of cocaine.-History:Benzoylecgonine is used as the main pharmaceutical ingredient in the prescription drug Esterom, a topical solution used for the relief of muscle pain....
, a metabolite
Metabolite
Metabolites are the intermediates and products of metabolism. The term metabolite is usually restricted to small molecules. A primary metabolite is directly involved in normal growth, development, and reproduction. Alcohol is an example of a primary metabolite produced in large-scale by industrial...
of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
in November 2006. He previously played for Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
and Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
.
Wigan Warriors Career
David was included in the Wigan squad in 2003 and become a first team player in 2005. He played 25 matches for Wigan mostly as a[substitute. He made one first team appearance for Wigan in 2003 as substitute and in 2004 made another appearance again as a substitute, he spent most of 2003 and 2004 playing in the Wigan Warriors Youth DevelopmentWigan Warriors Youth Development
Wigan Warriors Youth Development is the youth system of the Rugby League Football club Wigan Warriors. It is one of the most famous and successful youth system for rugby league and has produced some of the best players in both rugby league and rugby union. The Wigan Warriors Youth Development...
. In 2005 he made 8 starts for Wigan as well as 15 substitute appearances, he scored is first try for the club in the first Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
match for 2005 against Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
at the JJB Stadium
JJB Stadium
The DW Stadium is a sports stadium in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, that is home to Wigan Athletic football club and Wigan Warriors rugby league club....
on 11 February, he finished the season with 4 tries.
Wigan already had several second row forwards in the squad for 2006 such as Gareth Hock
Gareth Hock
Gareth Hock is an English rugby league player who currently plays for English club Wigan Warriors in the Super League competition. His primary position is as a second-row forward.-Early Years:...
, Danny Tickle
Danny Tickle
Danny Tickle, is an English professional rugby league footballer for Hull of Super League. His usual position is in the .-Playing career:...
, Harrison Hansen
Harrison Hansen
Harrison Hansen is a rugby league player. He plays for Wigan as a second row forward.-Early life:Kiwi forward Harrison is the son of ex Salford and Swinton professional Shane Hansen and is a product of the Folly Lane ARLFC who play at the Blue Ribbon Field, Pendlebury...
and when Wigan bought Australian second row Bryan Fletcher
Bryan Fletcher
Bryan Fletcher is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative second-row-forward, he played his club football in Australia with the Sydney Roosters then the South Sydney Rabbitohs...
Wigan decided to release David Allen from his contract at the club.
Widnes Vikings Career
After being released from Wigan Warriors he went on to join National League 1Rugby League National Leagues
The Championship, known as Co-operative Championship due to sponsorship by The Co-operative Group, is a professional rugby league competition based in the United Kingdom. It is currently contested by ten teams from England. It acts as Europe's second-tier competition below the Super League, and has...
side Widnes Vikings. He was one of 7 ex-Wigan players in the 2006 Widnes side and regularly played in the second row. He played in the 2006 National League 1 Grand Final where Widnes lost 16-29 to Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
. At the end of 2006 his contract with Widnes was not renewed after he was banned from rugby league for taking a banned substance.
Drugs Ban
David Allen was banned from Rugby League for 12 months by the Rugby Football LeagueRugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
after testing positive for Benzoylecgonine a metabolite of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
, Allan argued that he has taken the drugs accidentally and the RFL accepted and only issued the 12 month ban however UK Sport
UK Sport
UK Sport is the UK Government's organisation for directing the development of sport within the home countries.-History:The Sports Council previously had been formed in 1972, and had the motto Sport for All. There was also the Central Council of Physical Recreation. In July 1994 it was decided to...
appealed and asked the RFL to reconsider their punishment and apply the mandatory two-year ban in the World Anti-Doping Code. It was the first appeal lodged by UK Sport against a sanction imposed by a national governing body on an athlete who failed a drugs test.
International career
He was included in the 2003 England Academy squad to face the Australian Institute of SportAustralian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
. He was selected for the 2004 Academy Origin Series and the 2004 England Academy U-18s tour. In 2006 he was selected for the Ireland along with 6 other Widnes players for the World Cup qualifying matches in 2006 and 2007 however due to his drugs ban he will not longer be eligible to play for Ireland until he has served his 2 year ban.
Trivia
- Allen's father, John, was a professional player with Swinton.
- He attended Fairfield High School in WidnesWidnesWidnes is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in Cheshire, England, with an urban area population of 57,663 in 2004. It is located on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south across the Mersey is the town of Runcorn...
, CheshireCheshireCheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
from 1996–2001