She was only a drug tester's daughter . . .

If ever you wanted to explain to a non-sporty type the difference between a Premiership footballer and Premiership rugby players this week might be one place to start.

Way back in 2003 Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand ended up being banned for eight months after he missed a drugs test.

In May this year three rugby players, Michael Lipman, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins, failed to take a drugs test and this week the now former Bath trio were banned for nine months.

Ferdinand, the footballer, forgot to turn up for the test after morning training and left to go shopping.

The rugby players refused to take the tests after an end-of-season party because, according to the RFU disciplinary tribunal, the players believed there was a risk of positive results.

According to His Honour Judge Jeff Blackett,"This was either because they knew they had ingested drugs or they had drunk so much alcohol that they could not remember whether or not they had ingested drugs."

In other words it seems the trio, who are considering an appeal, were so blathered that their recollection of the party was . . . should we say . . . less than complete.

I am not making light of drugs in sport and missed tests but you must admit the reasons for missed tests does nicely sum up the two games.