Rugby:Andy Powell's involvement in the Six Nations is effectively over after Wales reacted to his charge for drink driving by dropping him from their squad.
In a move that places a question mark over his Test future under head coach Warren Gatland, the Welsh management have suspended Powell for “behaviour contrary to the squad’s code of conduct”.
Powell was arrested yesterday with a golf buggy at a motorway services, the morning after Wales had completed a dramatic 31-24 comeback win against Scotland at the Millennium Stadium. South Wales Police said he was charged with “driving a mechanically propelled vehicle whilst unfit through drink”.
A court date of March 2nd has been set, giving Powell time to reflect on an incident that has had damaging repercussions for international career. Wales have acted decisively in removing the 28-year-old from their 35-man squad with team manager Alan Phillips admitting his behaviour was unacceptable and setting no date for his return.
“We take matters of player conduct extremely seriously and have been happy with the professionalism and discipline of this squad in general terms,” said Phillips. “Andy knows he has misbehaved and is apologetic, but he also knows that he must take responsibility for his own actions and accept the repercussions.
“This kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated in a professional, elite sporting environment and we have acted quickly and incisively in order to leave no ambiguity over the dim view we take of this situation.
“The player has made his private apologies to the Welsh management team as well as apologising in a public statement and we have also asked him to apologise to the Vale Resort Hotel, before asking him to leave the squad.
“We will now leave the South Wales Police service to conclude the matter and we will be making no further public statements at this time.”
Wales’ decision to take a hard-line stance against Powell’s misconduct will have been simplified by his disappointing form so far this Six Nations. The Cardiff Blue has been playing out of position at blindside flanker to accommodate Ryan Jones in his preferred position at number eight and has struggled to adapt.
His place was under scrutiny before the incident with fellow Blue Sam Warburton making an impression from the bench against Scotland. Gatland must now decide whether to start with Warburton, whose ability to play six or seven makes him useful on the bench, or move Jonathan Thomas to blindside flanker.
Should Gatland take the second option, Bradley Davies, Ian Gough or Luke Charteris will be in contention to fill Thomas’ spot in the second row.
No player has been called up to provide back row cover following Powell’s arrest. The dilemma now facing Gatland is to decide what Powell’s Wales prospects are beyond the Six Nations with a tour to New Zealand looming this summer.
If nothing else, he is guilty of a major breach of discipline midway through a major tournament.
He was detained with another 28-year-old man at the service station near junction 33 of the M4 motorway, close to the spa hotel in the Vale of Glamorgan where his team were staying.
He was arrested with the other man and subsequently failed a breathalyser test, police said. The men did not drive the buggy on to the motorway.
Mike Burton, Powell’s agent, told BBC Radio Five Live the player was “very sorry and embarrassed about what happened”.