England captain Martin Johnson yesterday lent his support to Ireland hooker Frankie Sheahan in his bid to over-turn a two-year drugs ban.

The Munster forward, an asthma sufferer, received the suspension in July after testing positive for the banned substance salbutamol, which he uses as part of his medication.

Sheahan has received backing from Irish team-mates Ronan O'Gara and David Wallace, who issued strongly-worded statements on his behalf, and yesterday the English-based Professional Rugby Players Association (PRA) expressed extreme concern at the implications for asthmatic sportspeople.

Damian Hopley, chief executive of the PRA, said: "There has been huge interest in this case amongst our membership, all of whom are very concerned for rugby players in England if this severe ban is upheld.

"Asthma should not be a barrier to participation in sport at any level. There are several asthmatics playing in the Zurich Premiership and this treatment of Frankie has set a very dangerous precedent.

"We would not wish for any asthmatic who is obliged to use an inhaler to undergo the turmoil that Frankie has had to endure."

The Judicial Tribunal which handed down the ban accepted that Sheahan required medication for asthma and that he inhaled medication containing salbutamol.

Johnson, a PRA executive management board member, said: "The regulations regarding the use of inhalers in rugby union have to be clarified in order to bring transparency and consistency to the issue of asthma medication."

O'Gara and Wallace, who are also asthma sufferers, joined Cork Constitution, the Munster Supporters Club, the Munster Players and Management, the Irish Asthmatic Society and IRUPA (the Irish Professional Players Association) in pledging unconditional and unqualified support to Sheahan.

If the player succeeds in his appeal, he could yet force his way into the reckoning for Ireland's 30-man World Cup squad, which will be announced on Sunday week.

Sheahan, who celebrated his 27th birthday yesterday, was regularly understudy to Keith Wood and later Shane Byrne but lost his chance to regain his place when sent home from Ireland's summer tour in Australia.

Meanwhile, France have named a strong line-up for the World Cup warm-up match with England at Marseille's Stade Velodrome tomorrow.

Coach Bernard Laporte fulfilled his pre-match vow to play a strong team against England in a clash between the two Northern Hemisphere teams considered most capable of ending the dominance of the Southern Hemisphere countries at the World Cup in Australia.

Nicolas Brusque comes in at full-back for the injured Pepito Elhorga who has had cartilage problems.

And centre Tony Marsh, who won his battle against cancer this year and has also had a problem with his left calf, has also been left out.

Captain Fabien Galthie is named in the starting line-up at scrumhalf despite the injury that prevented him from taking a full part in training on Wednesday and he will be partnered by Frederic Michalak at half-back.

The match in Marseille (7 p.m. Irish time) is the first of two games with World Cup favourites England who will host France at Twickenham in the return.

Yannick Bru gets a run-out at hooker in place of the experienced Raphael Ibanez, who starts on the replacements' bench.

England number eight Joe Worsley has been forced to withdraw from the team after twisting his ankle in training.

He will be replaced by Sale Sharks' Alex Sanderson, with Gloucester flanker Andy Hazell taking Sanderson's spot on the bench.

The loss of Worsley is a blow to the England camp, given his outstanding performance in the record 43-9 victory over Wales at the Millennium Stadium last Saturday. But Sanderson now has a golden chance to press his World Cup claims.

England are seeking their 15th successive Test match victory, having gone 18 months unbeaten since they lost to France in Paris during the 2002 Six Nations Championship.

FRANCE (v England, in Marseille): N Brusque; A Rougerie, Y Jauzion, D Traille, C Dominici; F Michalak, F Galthie (capt); J-J Crenca, Y Bru, S Marconnet, F Pelous, J Thion, S Betsen, O Magne, I Harinordoquy. Replacements: R Ibanez, O Milloud, D Auradou, S Chabal, P Tabacco, X Garbajosa, B Liebenberg.

ENGLAND: I Balshaw; J Lewsey, O Smith, M Tindall, B Cohen; P Grayson, A Healey; G Rowntree, D West (capt), J White, S Borthwick, D Grewcock, M Corry, L Moody, A Sanderson. Replacements: S Thompson, J Leonard, S Shaw, A Hazell, A Gomarsall, D Walder, J Noon.

Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa).

Touch judges: David McHugh and Simon McDowell (both Ireland).