ENGLAND WILL LEAVE Danny Care out of their squad for the forthcoming Six Nations tournament for disciplinary reasons.
In what was the second alcohol-related incident involving the Harlequins scrum-half in three weeks, Care was arrested in the early hours of New Year’s Day for allegedly driving under the influence following their win over Exeter.
It is the latest setback to the 25-year-old’s international career. He has won 32 caps to date but was absent from last year’s World Cup due to an injured toe.
Now England’s interim head coach Stuart Lancaster has confirmed that he won’t be in the 32-man squad, which will be named on January 11.
Care has also been hit with a “substantial” fine by his club and is due in court on January 16.
“I have decided not to contest the charge as I want to bring this to a close swiftly rather than have it hanging over my head for a year or more,” the player said on BBC’s website.
“I would stress that at no time did I think I had drunk enough to be over the legal limit. However I should not have got into the car and have to accept the consequences of that action.
“I am devastated not to be selected for the Elite Player Squad for the Six Nations as I felt I had been playing near the top of my game with Quins.”
Conor O’Shea, Director of Rugby at Quins said on BBC Radio 5 Live: ”I think Stuart has done the right thing and I support the RFU completely and entirely.”
It is the second such incident for Care in under a month after he was brought into custody by police for being drunk and disorderly.
