Welsh Flanker Arrested After Scottish Win
Wales flanker Andy Powell faces an uncertain future in the international game after being arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning for allegedly taking and driving away a golf buggy.
Just hours after his team’s dramatic victory over Scotland, the 28-year-old Cardiff Blues forward was arrested with another man at services off junction 33 of the M4 in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Investigations are ongoing, but with Wales coach Warren Gatland a stickler for discipline, the player’s inclusion in the squad for the game against France a week on Friday, must surely be in doubt.
The pair’s alleged high jinks put a further dampener on a match already overshadowed by serious injuries to Scotland’s Thom Evans and Chris Paterson. Evans, the 24-year-old Glasgow Warriors‘ wing underwent surgery on his neck at the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff, on Saturday night after a sickening collision with the Wales full-back Lee Byrne. Paterson, the 31-year-old Edinburgh full-back, suffered a damaged kidney and like Evans, will remain in hospital until deemed well enough to travel.
Gatland and team manager Alan Phillips chose not to comment on the matter last night, but a statement from the Welsh Rugby Union read: “The WRU is aware of a police investigation into an incident involving the player Andy Powell and is monitoring its progress.
“The national squad views matters of player conduct extremely seriously. Members of the national squad management will formally speak to the player before any futher statement is issued.
“The WRU has advised the player on the opportunities he can consider for legal representation at this stage.”
South Wales Police confirmed that one of the two arrested men failed a breath test, but it is not known which one of the men this was. No charges have yet been brought.
It is understood the golf buggy was taken from the Vale Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort in the Vale of Glamorgan where the Wales team stayed before and after the match on Saturday. A spokesman for the hotel said they could not comment as a police investigation was ongoing.
Thanks to the telegraph.co.uk
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