Rugby team tests 'herbal viagra'

Players "gird their loins" with the herbal viagra

A Welsh rugby team plans to stiffen its defence with help from a Chinese supplement dubbed "herbal viagra."

Aberavon RFC, known as the Wizards, are using the potion to gird their loins for battle.

The product, "Duro", contains an extract of fungus taken from the larval remains of the silkworms.

Chris O'Callaghan admits he is a "guinea pig"

The club's coaching staff heard Chinese athletes had taken the supplement to boost their performance at the Sydney Olympics.

But when Chris O'Callaghan, the club's Director of Coaching, ordered the product from the internet, he was surprised by the claims made on the packet.

The label suggested Duro could do a lot more than boost sporting prowess - describing the mixture as "the ancient Asian secret to restoring sex drive."

Laboratory tests

Mr O'Callaghan has been testing Duro for a month while a laboratory carries out tests to check that it contains no banned substances.

The club wants to be sure the players will not fail any doping tests - which are now carried out in first class rugby.

"I have been using myself as a guinea pig for a month and knew after the first week it would do the trick for the players," said the coach.

"The jokes will be merciless but I truly believe the stamina of the team will be improved so it will be worth it.

Anything that gives us an edge and is legal will be good for the team

Wizard's hooker Justin Hyatt

"It certainly boosts the libido - but I don't think any of my lads have problems in that department," he added.

Chris hopes that all 30 players in the squad will start taking the herbal supplement next week.

Vice captain and hooker Justin Hyatt, 31, is enthusiastic.

"Anything that gives us an edge and is legal will be good for the team.

"It's worth looking at if it gives us extra energy and enables muscular tissue to repair more quickly. "

The Wizard's managers are contacting the Welsh Rugby Union to check they have permission to try out Duro.

"If it is legal and does not contain banned substances then there is nothing to stop Aberavon going ahead with it," said a WRU spokesman.

Aberavon RFC, founded in 1876, have provided the Welsh national team with 48 internationals.

The Wizards are currently in division one of the Welsh National League.