Welsh rugby star in drugs confession

Hadley (far left) in rugby union action for Sale

Former Wales international Adrian Hadley took drugs before a crucial Five Nations victory over Scotland.

The 38-year-old ex-winger has admitted that he took Dexedrine - a type of amphetamine - before scoring the try that helped Wales deprive Scotland of a Grand Slam in 1986.

He has also indicated, in his soon-to-be-published autobiography, that a team-mate took the same amphetamine before the Welsh Cup final of 1987.

The person who gave me the tablet said he used them regularly

Adrian Hadley

Hadley, who finished a 17-year playing career at Sale - where he was director of rugby - is due take up a post as chief executive at Bridgend.

He said he was given the amphetamine by an unnamed team-mate in the Cardiff Arms Park dressing room.

"The person who gave me the tablet said he used them regularly but, although I was offered them again, I declined," said Hadley, in his book, My Life in International Rugby.

"I can't remember which one of us broke the tablet, but I went off and swallowed it down with water.

Overdose

"A couple of the other boys had the tablets, one helping himself to more than the recommended dose.

"I can't remember whether he took a whole tablet or even one and a half, but it seemed to affect him later."

It seems I had been introduced to what is commonly known as 'speed'

Adrian Hadley

Hadley claimed he did not know what he had taken until later on.

"Unbeknown to all three of us, we had taken a tablet called Dexedrine.

"I hadn't a clue what it was for but I made inquiries recently and discovered that it was amphetamine.

"It seems I had been introduced to what is commonly known as 'speed'."

Cannabis

In another revelation, Hadley confessed to smoking cannabis when at rugby league club Salford and said players in both codes used the drug.

"I've known loads of professional rugby players who smoked dope socially," he said.

When Hadley was director of rugby at Sale, he allowed Dylan O'Grady back to train with the club after serving a drugs-related prison sentence.

"I figured everyone was entitled to make one mistake and, anyway, who was I to judge him."

Demoralised

David Pickering, who was Wales captain at the time, was shocked to hear Hadley's claims.

"It was a complete shock to me. I played for Wales for five years and never saw anyone take drugs.

"As a captain you don't know everything that goes on, especially if it's clandestine. It's something he's not particularly proud of, and rightly so.

"I don't think it devalues our win. It will be remembered for Paul Thorburn's penalty, which was one of the longest-ever, and that did the most to demoralise Scotland and win the game."