Welsh rugby international star Andy Powell has been charged with drink driving and subsequently dropped from the Wales squad. Somewhat bizarrely though, it wasn’t a motor car or bike that he was pulled over for driving….it was a golf buggy.
According to the BBC, Mr Powell was arrested at a motorway services on the M4 after going out celebrating his team’s victory over Scotland in the Six Nations tournament.
He was taken in to custody at around 6 am on Sunday morning.
It is understood that the golf buggy was taken from the Vale Hotel, Golf and Spa resort in the Vale of Glamorgan where the Welsh team were staying prior to and after their match.
Mr Powell has been exceptionally apologetic for his actions and in a statement his agent, Mr Mike Burton, stated on behalf of his client that “He does not excuse or condone drink driving in any form and it was a misjudgement. He is sorry and will face up to it.”
The Welsh Rugby Union said of its decision to drop and suspend Mr Powell from their squad was because his behaviour was “contrary to the squad’s code of conduct”.
They also stated that, although he was apologetic, he knew that “…he must take responsibility for his own actions and accept the repercussions.”
It is good to see that the WRU recognise the significant risk that Mr Powell presented to both himself and other road users when he drove the buggy while over the alcohol limit for driving. This sets an example to other road users and it should be noted that according to government road safety website Think! if you drive at twice the legal alcohol limit you are at least 30 times more likely to cause a crash than a driver who has not been drinking.
