Rugby Update: Wallaby Cameron Shepherd caught drinking while driving
The Wallaby superstar Cameron Shepherd will be facing Australian Rugby Union disciplinary hearing after he was charged for driving under the influence of alcohol and holding a suspended driver’s license. The western force utility back was caught while he
was over speeding and will be attending the ARU Tribunal under the suspected code of conduct violation which occurred in December. ARU Disciplinary Tribunal will be considering court’s verdict and will summon the super star if necessary.
Cameron Shepherd, who currently plays for Western Force, is an Australian Rugby Union Footballer and plays at his usual full back position. He represents Western Force in Super 14. He played both Basketball and Rugby for Barker College in Sydney. He pursued
rugby and joined New South Wales Waratahs and later on became a professional rugby player when he was called for Under 21 level. He represented Australia internationally in 2003 at Under 21 level and was called by Australian A team, the very same year after
his superb performance.
He was signed on a three year deal by a new franchise, the Western Force, in 2005. He had a successful season and was emerging as a backbone for the club. In 2006, Shepherd was included in Australian International Rugby squad. He scored his first try against
Ireland at Subiaco Oval in a difficult test match, during 2006 mid-year rugby test series. This ground was previously home ground for Western Force in Super 14. He received his first cap in September 2006 when he was selected for Wallabies in an important
and crucial, 2006 Tri Nations Series final test against South Africa. He has been a member of Australian International squad since then and played the 2007 Rugby world Cup as well.
Shepherd is waiting for a notification of date from court for the hearing. An official statement was issued, it said,
“The ARU Disciplinary Tribunal will consider the Court’s determination and will convene if required following completion of the legal process, which is expected to be finalised within the coming months.” It is an ARU protocol requirement that all the
accused and alleged code of conduct violators for Super Rugby players contracted by Australia, will be heard by ARU Disciplinary Tribunal instead of taking the case to provincial level.
He has not been dismissed from the club and will carry on with the training for the upcoming Super Rugby season 2011. This is not the first time Shepherd has been in the news for the same reason. He was also convicted by WA traffic police for driving with
a suspended license, back in May 2010. Shepherd’s license was suspended in 2008 because of another offence and he was fined $400 when sanctioned an appeal of guilty to Magistrate Paul Heaney.
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