List of Rugby Players Who Smoke Weed

• CBD vs. THC distinction is critical – While CBD is not prohibited under WADA rules (effective 2018 list update), THC remains prohibited in-competition above WADA thresholds
• Rugby players are pioneering CBD entrepreneurship – Multiple international stars like George Kruis and Dominic Day have founded industry-leading CBD brands like fourfiveCBD
• Medical motivations drive most usage – Chronic pain, inflammation, sleep issues, and reducing opioid dependency are the primary reasons rugby players turn to cannabis
• Active elite players are increasingly open advocates – Finn Russell, one of Europe’s best fly-halves, publicly invests in and uses CBD for recovery from professional rugby demands
• Disciplinary cases highlight regulatory tensions – Recent cases like Isaia Walker-Leawere and Liam Murray demonstrate ongoing enforcement of prohibited substance bans despite changing social attitudes
• All Blacks legends are prominent advocates – Jerome Kaino and Ben Franks credit CBD with career longevity and recovery, lending significant credibility to cannabis wellness
• Ireland’s rugby icon Rob Kearney invests in CBD wellness – The 95-cap international has moved into CBD-infused skincare through his investment in Poko

Rugby is one of the most physically demanding sports globally, with players regularly facing chronic pain, inflammation, and sleep disruption. This has led many to explore cannabis as a recovery tool, particularly CBD, which is not prohibited under WADA regulations. For those seeking similar wellness solutions, Herb’s cannabis products catalog offers a comprehensive range of options for recovery and relaxation.

George Kruis earned 45 caps for England overall (27 at the time of the 2018 BBC interview) and was a key lock for Saracens. He co-founded fourfiveCBD in 2019, becoming one of rugby’s first major CBD entrepreneurs. His journey from professional rugby to cannabis business reflects the sport’s evolving relationship with plant-based recovery.

• International career: 45 caps for England, key player for Saracens
• Cannabis motivation: Chronic pain, sleep issues, reducing painkiller dependency
• Key insight: “Sleep was definitely one of the things it helped with for me. But I also have low-level chronic pain and I was able to reduce the amount of painkillers I was taking”
• Business achievement: Co-founded BSCG-certified CBD brand specifically for athletes
• Industry impact: According to Kruis in his BBC Sport interview, products were used by “four or five people in every club”

Kruis’s transition from elite athlete to cannabis entrepreneur exemplifies how rugby players are reshaping the industry with athlete-focused standards and credibility.

Welsh international lock Dominic Day partnered with George Kruis to launch fourfiveCBD in 2019, driven by his personal recovery journey from knee surgery and chronic inflammation. His experience highlights the medical motivations behind many rugby players’ cannabis advocacy.

• International career: Wales international, played for Saracens and Bath
• Medical trigger: Knee surgery recovery led to CBD discovery
• Transformative results: “The first thing I noticed was my sleep was amazing. The inflammation in my knee also went down and it relieved the pain. I was sold from then on”
• Painkiller reduction: Reduced dependence from 4-5 times weekly to minimal use
• Market solution: Co-founded fourfiveCBD to address trust issues in the CBD market for athletes

Day’s journey from injury recovery to business co-founder demonstrates how personal health challenges can drive innovation in the cannabis wellness space.

Former professional halfback Grayson Hart faced potential retirement at age 28 due to a degenerative knee injury and the risk of opioid dependency. His discovery of CBD not only saved his career temporarily but led him to co-found Pure Sport CBD beginning in December 2018, one of the BSCG-certified CBD brands globally.

• Career crisis: Faced retirement at ~28 due to degenerative knee injury
• Addiction avoidance: Broke a 2-year painkiller cycle within 2 weeks of CBD use
• Business creation: Co-founded Pure Sport CBD beginning December 2018 with fellow rugby player Adam Ashe
• Industry milestone: Created a BSCG-certified CBD brand with rigorous third-party testing standards
• Endorsement power: Secured backing from All Blacks legends including Jerome Kaino

Hart’s story is particularly compelling as it demonstrates cannabis as a harm reduction tool, potentially preventing opioid addiction among injured athletes.

Unlike many CBD advocates who are retired, Finn Russell represents the current generation of elite rugby players openly using and investing in cannabis wellness. The Scotland fly-half (who played for Racing 92 at the time of his 2021 investment), considered one of Europe’s best players, backed Pure Sport CBD as part of an early funding round and uses CBD oil regularly for recovery.

• Current status: Active international for Scotland
• Financial commitment: Invested in Pure Sport CBD funding round (as reported in 2021)
• Usage pattern: Takes CBD oil at night and mornings after games for recovery
• Personal testimony: “It’ll be different for everyone. It doesn’t kill the pain there and then, but it allows me to get a good night’s sleep so the next day I’m feeling a lot better”
• Investment rationale: “I have invested in Pure Sport CBD because I use it, I trust it, and I believe in the people behind it”

Russell’s active advocacy is significant because it demonstrates mainstream acceptance of CBD among current elite players, not just retired athletes. For those interested in similar CBD products for athletic recovery, Herb offers comprehensive options.

Retired Glasgow Warriors flanker Adam Ashe co-founded Pure Sport CBD with Grayson Hart beginning in December 2018, investing his “hard earned savings” into what would become an industry-leading brand. The business has since expanded significantly, raising £3.6 million in 2025 led by Redrice Ventures.

• Professional background: Back row for Glasgow Warriors and Sale Sharks
• Business founding: Invested personal savings to launch Pure Sport CBD beginning in December 2018
• Market insight: Recognized that athletes wanted CBD but couldn’t trust available products
• Business growth: Company products now used by professional athletes
• Recent expansion: Secured £3.6m raise in 2025, expanding into performance nutrition

Ashe’s journey from professional rugby to successful cannabis entrepreneur shows how athletes are building legitimate businesses that address real market needs in sports wellness.

Hurricanes lock Isaia Walker-Leawere tested positive for carboxy-THC in 2023, with his suspension reduced after completing a substance abuse program. His case became a flashpoint in the debate about cannabis prohibition in sports, with regulatory authorities acknowledging treatment-focused approaches.

• Professional standing: Experienced first-class player for Hurricanes and Hawke’s Bay over 8 years
• Incident details: Tested positive for carboxy-THC in 2023, stating he used it “to wind down” with friends
• Regulatory context: Case highlighted WADA’s urinary carboxy-THC threshold of 150 ng/mL (increased from 15 ng/mL following the 2013 Prohibited List update)
• Progressive approach: Suspension reduced after completing substance abuse program
• Official stance: Regulatory authorities emphasized getting athletes support and back into sport as the most practical outcome

Walker-Leawere’s case illustrates the ongoing tension between social cannabis use and professional sports regulations, even as attitudes evolve toward treatment rather than punishment.

With 77 caps for England, flanker James Haskell brings significant international credibility to cannabis advocacy in rugby. Ben Franks partnered with James Haskell and CiiTECH on the launch of Impact Sports (CBD brand), creating a cross-hemisphere partnership that demonstrates global acceptance of CBD in professional rugby.

• International career: 77 caps for England, played for Wasps and multiple international clubs
• Business partnership: Ben Franks partnered with Haskell and CiiTECH to launch Impact Sports
• Cultural impact: Helped normalize CBD use in UK rugby through his high-profile platform
• International collaboration: Partnership with All Blacks star shows global CBD movement in rugby

Haskell’s advocacy is particularly significant given his extensive international career and high profile in English rugby, helping to legitimize CBD use for athletes among skeptical audiences.

All Blacks legend Jerome Kaino, a World Cup winner who played elite rugby until age 38, credits CBD with extending his career and managing the chronic wear-and-tear of professional rugby. His endorsement carries significant weight given his status as one of New Zealand’s most respected players.

• All Blacks legacy: World Cup winner, played elite rugby until age 38
• Medical application: Uses CBD for anti-inflammatory effects and injury recovery (knees, elbows, shoulders)
• Career impact: Credited CBD with having a significant impact on maintaining his playing level in his final years
• Brand endorsement: Public supporter of Pure Sport CBD products
• Longevity factor: Credits CBD with enabling his exceptional career longevity into his late 30s

Kaino’s testimony is particularly powerful because it comes from a player who maintained elite performance well beyond typical retirement age, suggesting CBD’s potential role in athletic longevity.

Rob Kearney was capped 95 times for Ireland over 15 years with Leinster. He has invested in the luxury end of the cannabis wellness market through Poko, a CBD-infused skincare company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE). His business ventures extend beyond rugby into multiple hospitality and wellness investments.

• Ireland legacy: 95 caps for Ireland over 15 years with Leinster
• Business investment: Investor and brand ambassador for Poko (CBD-infused skincare)
• Product range: Luxury CBD-infused skincare including facial oils
• Diversified portfolio: Also partner in hospitality ventures with fellow rugby veterans

Kearney’s move into luxury CBD skincare represents the diversification of rugby players’ cannabis interests beyond basic recovery into premium wellness products. For those exploring CBD skincare and topicals, Herb offers a curated selection.

Canadian international Liam Murray’s adverse analytical finding included ligandrol (LGD-4033), GW501516, and carboxy-THC during a test match against Romania in Ottawa on July 12, 2024, receiving a three-year suspension from August 14, 2024, to 11:59pm on August 13, 2027. His case demonstrates that despite evolving attitudes, prohibited substance enforcement remains strict in international rugby.

• International status: Canada national team player
• Testing incident: Adverse analytical finding at test match vs Romania (Ottawa, July 12, 2024)
• Official sanction: 3-year suspension from August 14, 2024, to 11:59pm on August 13, 2027
• Legal process: Accepted violations and waived hearing, showing acknowledgment of the offense
• Regulatory reminder: Case demonstrates continued enforcement of WADA’s prohibited substance regulations in international competition

Murray’s recent case serves as a reminder that despite growing acceptance of cannabis in society, professional sports maintain strict anti-doping regulations.

The relationship between rugby and cannabis hinges on a crucial distinction: CBD (cannabidiol) is not prohibited under WADA rules (effective from the 2018 Prohibited List), while THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) remains prohibited in-competition above WADA thresholds. This distinction explains why players like George Kruis and Finn Russell can openly advocate for and invest in CBD products, while others like Isaia Walker-Leawere and Liam Murray face suspensions for prohibited substance use.

CBD offers potential benefits for pain management, inflammation reduction, and sleep improvement without the psychoactive effects of THC. This makes it particularly attractive to rugby players dealing with the sport’s physical toll. For those exploring similar options, Herb’s strain guides can help identify CBD-dominant varieties suitable for recovery and wellness.

Rugby players have moved beyond personal cannabis use to become industry leaders, with multiple international stars founding certified CBD brands. George Kruis and Dominic Day’s fourfiveCBD, along with Grayson Hart and Adam Ashe’s Pure Sport CBD, have pursued rigorous BSCG certification, setting new standards for athlete safety and product quality.

This entrepreneurial trend reflects rugby players’ unique position to address market gaps they experienced firsthand. As Dominic Day noted in his BBC Sport interview, athletes wanted CBD but couldn’t trust available products, leading to the creation of brands specifically designed for sports performance and recovery.

World Rugby’s approach to cannabis is evolving, as demonstrated by Isaia Walker-Leawere’s reduced suspension when he completed a substance abuse program. Regulatory authorities’ acknowledgment that cannabis enforcement can include treatment-focused approaches suggests a shift toward treating cannabis use as a health issue rather than solely a doping violation.

However, recent cases like Liam Murray’s three-year suspension (which involved multiple prohibited substances including carboxy-THC) remind us that anti-doping enforcement remains strict in international competition. Players must navigate this complex landscape carefully, understanding that while CBD is permitted under WADA rules, other substances can still end careers regardless of intent or context.