The Australian Rugby Union is investigating an incident in which Wallabies winger James O’Connor was not allowed to board a plane and had to be removed from a Perth airport terminal.
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O’Connor was due to fly to Bali with his girlfriend shortly before 5am on Sunday, the morning after the Wallabies won a tight 14-13 Rugby Championship Test against Argentina at Perth’s Paterson’s Stadium.
Australian Federal Police alleged he was intoxicated and not allowed to board the Air Asia flight. It is understood O’Connor has denied being drunk but admitted to engaging in a heated argument over the seating arrangements for himself and his girlfriend.
‘‘The AFP can confirm it spoke to a 23-year-old man at Perth International Airport in the early hours of the 15th of September (Sunday),’’ a statement from the AFP read.
‘‘It is alleged the man was intoxicated. The airline the man was booked to travel with made a decision not to allow him to board the aircraft. The AFP subsequently escorted the man from the terminal.’’
The ARU’s integrity officer Phil Thomson is aware of the allegation and is investigating. Most of the squad flew back to their home states on Sunday ahead of a bye week in the Rugby Championship.
They assemble in Sydney again on Saturday before flying out for the Wallabies’ two-week tour of Argentina and South Africa.
O’Connor is believed to be close to signing with the Western Force. He left the Melbourne Rebels earlier this year.He has been the subject of a number of controversial incidents in the past, most recently a 4am burger run with teammate Kurtley Beale days before a must-win Test against the British and Irish Lions.
In 2011 he was suspended for a Test after missing the Wallabies’ World Cup squad announcement. Last year he was allegedly involved in a fight in Paris that involved Beale and Quade Cooper, but has worked hard in recent months to distance himself from that behaviour.
