AUSTRALIAN rugby star Karmichael Hunt is reportedly “inconsolable” after he was arrested and charged with drug possession in the early hours of Saturday morning.
It comes as the former NRL star voluntarily stood himself down from all his rugby commitments with the Wallabies and Queensland Reds, according to his lawyer.
Police allegedly discovered a white powder after searching the 31-year-old Wallabies representative in a car park in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley at about 12.40am.
Hunt was subsequently charged with two counts of drug possession.
He is set to face the Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 29.
It’s the second time in three years Hunt has been charged for drug-related offences, having been fined $2500 after pleading guilty to four counts of drug possession in March 2015.
With the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) confirming it had launched an investigation into the incident, Hunt’s unique three-code footballing career could be over.
Hunt’s lawyer Adam Magill said his client was devastated.
“He is very upset, as anyone would expect, and pretty much inconsolable,” Mr Magill told Fairfax Media.
“He is sticking with his family. He’s got concerns and his manager is taking care of him.”
According to the ABC, Magill said Hunt is “devastated and very upset”.
“He is not in a good way emotionally” Mr Magill said.
“The penny is starting to drop and he is just coming to terms with what is in jeopardy.”
Hunt, a former NRL and AFL player who joined the Reds at the end of 2014 shortly before his previous run-in with the law, has rebounded from that low point to establish himself as one of the Super Rugby franchise’s leading players.
He made his Wallabies debut in June and has represented Australia in six Tests, earning a two-year contract extension in November.
That contract now appears to be in jeopardy depending on the outcome of the ARU investigation.
A second man, 32, who was with Hunt has also been charged with drug-related offences.
The ARU on Saturday released a statement to confirm its investigation will be conducted alongside Queensland Rugby.
“Rugby Australia has today been made aware of an incident involving Wallabies and Reds back Karmichael Hunt in Brisbane overnight,” 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.”
Originally published as ‘Inconsolable’ Hunt stands down