FORMER Wigan Warriors academy player Rhys Pugsley has been given an eight-year ban after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug for the second time in two years.

The 21-year-old from Newport, who was capped by Wales in 2012, was coming towards the end of a two-year suspension, imposed for steroid use while on Wigan's books in April 2014, when he was tested again by UK Anti-Doping in February.

That test produced a positive result for the anabolic steroid nandrolone.

Pugsley had been offered a contract by Whitehaven once his ban expired this year but is now banned from all sport until March 2024.

UKAD chief executive Nicole Sapstead said in a statement: "Rhys has single-handedly destroyed that promising career as a result of this second violation.

"All athletes serving a sanction remain subject to testing throughout the course of their suspension, to mitigate the risk of them returning to sport and continuing to dope.

"Rhys' conscious choice to continue to take performance-enhancing substances, whilst he was already serving a ban, has rightly been met with a further tough sanction.

"We take this type of violation with the utmost seriousness and our message is clear - there is no place in sport for those who consciously dope.

"UKAD continues to be concerned about the number of young men who are turning to steroid use for performance or cosmetic enhancement.

"This trend continues to be a serious issue and we are calling on our partners in the sport, health and education sectors to support us in trying to tackle the issue.

"UKAD works closely with the Rugby Football League to ensure that anti-doping education, resources and support, are available to players, so that they can make the right choices throughout their careers to compete and win clean."

Pugsley, a former Caerleon Comprehensive School pupil who also played age grade rugby union for Newport Gwent Dragons, started his league career with Newport Titans.

He joined the Wigan academy in 2011 and went on to make his Wales debut against France on his 18th birthday the following year.

It was after an out-of-competition test in April 2014 that he received his initial two-year ban when it was found he had anabolic steroids in his system.