Australia winger Wendell Sailor has been stood down from playing for an indefinite period of time over an alleged breach of the Australian Rugby Union's (ARU) code of conduct.

Officials said Sailor, one of Australia's best-known and highest paid internationals, was being investigated by the ARU and the New South Wales Waratahs.

NSW Rugby Union chief executive Fraser Neill told a news conference that he was unable to discuss the case because of legal reasons, but Sailor had been dropped from the Waratahs' Super 14 match against Wellington while the investigations  were taking place.

"We're not able to give details of the alleged breach, though I can assure you it was one that NSW and ARU view most seriously," Neill said. "Given the nature of it, I think we have to make sure everything is investigated to its fullest and make sure all bases are covered."

NSWRU chairman Arvid Petersen said the Waratahs' management were notified about the alleged breach yesterday and had acted swiftly.

"When we became aware of this alleged breach Wendell was immediately stood down as per ARU protocols," Petersen said. "Over the past 24 hours our number one priority has been to manage the team's preparation for tonight's game."

Sailor, a former rugby league test player who switched codes in a blaze of publicity before the 2003 World Cup, was fined and suspended for three matches over a drunken nightclub incident in South Africa in February.

He was initially banned by the Waratahs for one week but the ARU gave him an additional two-game suspension after tribunal found his actions had damaged the image and reputation of the game.

Sailor was also handed a two-match suspended sentence last year for a separate nightclub incident while touring South Africa with the Australian test team.