New Zealand rugby officials have angrily dismissed disparaging claims made by French coach Bernard Laporte about their anti-doping policies.

Laporte told a French newspaper he could not be certain New Zealand and England rugby players were drug-free because their anti-doping tests were not as thorough as in France.

Laporte's comments were immediately rebuked by both New Zealand and England officials, who defended their testing programmes.

"We find (Laporte's comments) very disappointing," New Zealand Rugby deputy chief executive Steve Tew said yesterday. "It doesn't reflect a very good understanding of the commitment that New Zealand in general, and rugby in particular, has made to a drug-free environment in this country."

Tew said New Zealand players were subjected to independent and random testing from an appointed government agency. "Players can be visited anywhere and at any time and asked to give a urine sample, and that happens," he said.

New Zealand are favourites to win this year's World Cup.