David Allen (born 15 September 1985) is an Irish rugby league player 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.

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 Academy. 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 February 11, 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.

Widnes Vikings Career

After being released from Wigan Warriors he went on to join National League 1 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.

Drugs Ban

David Allen was banned from Rugby League for 12 months by the Rugby Football League 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.

International career

He was included in the 2003 England Academy squad to face the Australian Institute of Sport. 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 player for Ireland until he has served his 2 year ban.

Trivia

• Allen's father, John, was a professional player with Swinton.

External links

• BBC report on Allen's ban from rugby
• David Allen Profile on Wigan Warriors Official Site