The Australia centre Quade Cooper, one of the successes of the Wallabies tour of the British Isles last month, faces an anxious few months with his professional career in jeopardy after he was charged with burgling a residence in Queensland less than a week after returning home.
The 21-year-old, who started the Tests against England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales appeared in court today. His case was adjourned until July. His employers, Queensland Reds and the Australian Rugby Union, are monitoring events.
"There is a lot more to this story but I am restricted in what I can say," said Cooper's lawyer, Angelo Venardos, who added that his client would plead not guilty. "It is not as if Quade and someone else jumped in a car, packed their balaclavas and house-breaking implements and came down to the Gold Coast.
"Quade regrets putting himself in a position where he's left himself exposed to the allegations that he currently faces and he certainly regrets the potential embarrassment to his employers, the ARU, their corporate supporters, his family and his team-mates. I have, and Quade has, every confidence the truth will prevail and in the meantime we are just asking people not to prejudge the circumstances because it's a watch-this-space situation."
Meanwhile the Ireland wing Tommy Bowe, who scored one of his side's two tries against Australia last month, has started talks with the Ospreys about extending his contract at the Liberty Stadium. The 25-year-old's career has taken off since he joined the Welsh region 18 months ago and Ireland would like him to return: he is the only regular starter in the national side who earns his living outside the country.
"Playing for the Ospreys has helped me on a number of different levels," said Bowe, who made an impact with the Lions in South Africa last summer. "The last 18 months have been very positive for me and I am thoroughly enjoying my time here. It is a case with the contract talks of leaving people to sort out things and I will make a decision whenever I have to."
The Harlequins and England scrum-half Danny Care will appear before a disciplinary panel next week after being cited for a dangerous tackle against Leeds last week. He was sent to the sin-bin after the offence and Quins on Thursday banned him from Sunday's Heineken Cup group match against Sale at The Stoop.
