Australian rugby union player Karmichael Hunt was arrested early Saturday morning for drug possession during a night out in Brisbane.
Hunt – who currently plays for the national side the Wallabies – was allegedly caught by police in possession of a white powder in Fortitude Valley, reported ABC.
The 31-year-old former rugby league and Australian rules football star was arrested not long after midnight with another man who also faces two counts of drug possession.
Hunt was granted bail later in the morning and is next due in court on Jan. 29.
Karmichael Hunt won't play sport in Aus again if latest drug charges stand up. Would be a sad end to a strange career. I still feel he wasted his time in AFL.
— Chris Garry (@ChrisGarry7) December 30, 2017
Rugby Australia said it is aware of the incident and are looking into the issue.
“Rugby Australia takes all matters relating to the off-field behaviour of its players seriously and has commenced an investigation into the incident in conjunction with the Queensland Rugby Union,” said a statement released by the sport’s governing body.
“No further comment will be made at this time.”
Rugby Australia statement on Karmichael Hunt. https://t.co/h5Tn953Lyy
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) December 30, 2017
Speaking about the arrest, Hunt’s lawyer said the rugby union player is inconsolable.
“He is very upset, as anyone would expect, and pretty much inconsolable,” solicitor Adam Magill told Fairfax Media.
“He is sticking with his family. He’s got concerns and his manager is taking care of him.”
Australian sports star Karmichael Hunt arrested with cocaine.
Sad end to a great career .
He played 3 pro sports at highest level in Australia .Rugby league
Aussie rules
Rugby union.Hope he can sort his life out , a genuine super star pic.twitter.com/8t9UPfbaXW
— @Georgebakhos1 (@GeorgeBakhos1) December 30, 2017
This is not Hunt’s first run-in with the law related to drugs.
Two years ago he pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing cocaine when he was caught up in a drug-ring investigation that included other professional athletes who were rugby league players.
In that instance, Hunt escaped a conviction but was fined $2,500 by the courts and a further $30,000 by rugby union officials.
Hunt first made his mark in the sporting world playing rugby league for the Brisbane Broncos beginning in 2005. He switched codes and played Australian rules for the Gold Coast Suns in 2009, before switching codes again to play rugby union for the Queensland Reds in the second half of 2014.
The New Zealand-born Hunt played his first of six games for the Wallabies in June of this year.
Next:
Boiling water turns to snow
Dangerously cold weather gripped half of the United States on Thursday and Friday, prompting hypothermia and frostbite warnings as temperatures are forecast to remain near record lows through New Year’s weekend.
In this video, a staffer at Mount Washington Observatory demonstrates the power of hurricane-force winds combined with brutal cold by pouring a kettle of boiling water into the wind. The water instantly turned into snow.