'Buggy thief' Powell axed from Wales Six Nations squad
Flanker Andy Powell has been cut from the Wales Six Nations squad after being charged with drink-driving
Also In The News
|
By Darren Estwick. |  |
Monday, 15, Feb 2010 05:04
By Alistair Potter.
Back-row forward Andy Powell has been removed from the Wales Six Nations squad with immediate effect following his arrest for stealing a golf buggy and drink-driving.
Powell has been charged with drink driving after being apprehended at a services stop off the M4 early on Sunday morning.
And in a statement, the Welsh Rugby Union have confirmed Powell will play no further part in the tournament.
"We take matters of player conduct extremely seriously," said Wales team manager Alan 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."
Phillips said Powell has apologised to the Welsh management, including head coach Warren Gatland and defensive coach Shaun Edwards, as well as the proprietors of the Vale Resort Hotel from where the buggy was taken.
However, Phillips said there was no excuse for the player's behaviour and that there was little choice in dismissing him for the remainder of the tournament.
Powell had apparently been out celebrating his side's dramatic 31-24 win over Scotland at the Millennium Stadium, when a last-minute Shane Williams try turned the game on its head.
It means Wales' record in the Six Nations so far is one win and one defeat, although they will now have to do without their British and Irish Lions flanker who faces police charges.
Cardiff Blues chief executive Robert Norster added: "Following on from the surreal finish to the weekend's encounter with Scotland, the news of what appears to be a bizarre but serious lack of judgement by one of our players whilst on national duty is of real concern.
"It seems, albeit from a distance, to have been a prank that has somehow gone dreadfully wrong with potentially very serious implications.
"Consequently, we fully accept and respect the WRU's understandable and prompt action to address the issue. Naturally, as this is an ongoing police matter, we will not be commenting further at this time."
No specific replacement for Powell will be added to the Welsh squad, the WRU has confirmed, although Scarlets hooker Ken Owens has been included as cover for his injured regional colleague Matthew Rees (groin) and Blues hooker Gareth Williams (knee), which means the squad retains 35 members.