Digby Ioane dropped for disciplinary reasons.
The Queensland Reds have had a week of ups and downs with the news that former Wallaby captain Will Genia will return against Western Force marred by the off-field incident involving fellow Wallaby Digby Ioane.
Ioane has been dropped by the club for the round 5 match at Suncorp Stadium following an alcohol fueled incident in which a number of Reds teammates were present, reports news.com.
After the Reds defeated the Melbourne Rebels last weekend the winger and a number of teammates, including Quade Cooper, remained in Melbourne while the rest of the team flew home.
It is alleged a member of Ioane’s company threatened and assaulted a 30-year-old man causing a minor leg injury, at the Mount Erica Hotel in Melbourne.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie has announced the action taken by the club to stand the Reds winger down from this week’s match was the club’s response to the matter and was separate to the police investigation into the incident.
McKenzie said he was disappointed in Ioane’s actions which did not reflect the level of responsibility expected of a senior Reds player.
“As an organisation and as a team we’re not happy about some of these things that are going on and the headlines … that goes around with that,” McKenzie said.
“We’re taking a stand at this point in time that this type of behaviour is not what we’re about. I’ve spent a lot of time speaking to Digby this morning about his role and responsibility in the team – and he gets that.
Police said, while they have released two Brisbane men, aged 30 and 27, their investigation continues and they hope to speak to witnesses of the alleged assault.
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