Briefs3-George Smith named Australia's best rugby player

Oct 23 (Reuters) - Sports news in brief from around the world on Thursday:

Rugby - George Smith won the John Eales medal as Australia's best rugby union player for 2008. The 28-year-old openside flanker became the first player to win the award twice after his previous success at the inaugural awards in 2002.

Smith was a runaway winner of the award, decided by votes from players involved in test matches over the past 12 months, including last year's World Cup in France.

Number eight Wycliff Palu finished runner-up for the second year in a row while Queensland wing Peter Hynes was named as the best rookie player.

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Doping - More than 400 doping tests were carried out on the 151 British athletes who won medals at the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, UK Sport said.

All medal winners in rowing, cycling and athletics were tested at least three times in what UK Sport said was its most comprehensive testing programme to date.

(Compiled by Alan Baldwin)