Wallaby arrested for 'drug possession'
The ARU confirmed that Wallaby Karmichael Hunt was arrested.
In a terse statement, the ARU said Rugby Australia was made aware of an incident involving the Wallaby and Reds back, Hunt, in Brisbane overnight.
"It is understood Hunt was arrested and has subsequently been released by Queensland police," the statement said.
"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.
"No further comment will be made at this time."
Hunt, a Rugby League convert, made his Wallaby debut this year.
He was detained, along with another man, in Brisbane early on Saturday morning.
He was allegedly caught with a white powder, which Sydney's Daily Telegraph and other media said was cocaine.
The Telegraph said he was due to appear in court on January 29, charged with two counts of drug possession.
The Sydney Morning Herald said he was due to appear in court on January 29, charged with two counts of drug possession.
"He is very upset, as anyone would expect, and pretty much inconsolable," Hunt's solicitor Adam Magill told the newspaper.
"He is sticking with his family. He's got concerns and his manager is taking care of him."
It is not the first time Hunt had been in trouble with the law.
He was banned for six weeks and fined AU$30,000 (US$23,500) by the Reds in 2015 after pleading guilty to four charges of cocaine possession.
As well as his club fine, he was stripped of the Reds' vice-captaincy and ordered to pay AU$2,500 by magistrates on Queensland's Gold Coast.
Despite the setback, he managed to re-establish himself at the Reds, and made his Wallabies debut this year, becoming one of the stars of Australia's home Tests in June.
Hunt is also not the first Rugby League convert to fall foul of Rugby Union regulations that are not as tolerant to 'social drugs' as League.
Wendell Sailor, who played for the Reds and Waratahs and made 37 Test appearances for Australia, was banned for two years after testing positive for cocaine use.
The sad saga of cocaine use among rugby players is not unique to Rugby League.
Earlier this year Wallaby back James O’Connor’s and All Blacks lock Ali Williams were busted for cocaine in France.
