DON’T COME BACK

Reds ban on Hunt stands despite drug charge being dropped

KARMICHAEL Hunt is certain to face an independent code of conduct hearing to determine his future in rugby union despite yesterday’s police decision to drop a cocaine charge.

The cocaine charge was dropped because of lack of evidence but the level of proof needed for a finding of “bringing the code into disrepute” is considerably lower.

Police had alleged that cocaine was found on the ground within metres of where Hunt was arrested in a Fortitude Valley car park in Brisbane on December 30.

Rugby Australia’s new Integrity Unit chief Gerard McEvilly is expected to assemble a three-person code of conduct panel to dissect the Hunt case.

Weighing into the judgment will be the black mark following a guilty plea on four counts of possessing cocaine in 2015 when he was banned for five matches at the Queensland Reds and fined a total of $32,500.

Hunt’s lawyer Adam Magill explained the Wallaby fullback’s mood outside the Brisbane Magistrates Court after the cocaine charge was dropped and he received a fine of $600 on two minor charges. No conviction was recorded.

“Relieved ... and it’s all over,” Magill said.

The Hunt dilemma is far from over.

He signed a new $1 millionplus contract late last year for 2018-19 and the collective will of rugby union to persevere with the troubled footballer has been strained to breaking point.

The significant “win” for Hunt was avoiding a conviction, which would have thrown up brick walls to playing for clubs overseas.

“I think it’s crucial for anyone that has the opportunity to travel overseas,” Magill said.

“We don’t know what he’s going to be doing but, obviously, any reported conviction can stifle that.”

Hunt’s name last week appeared in The Rugby Paper, a bible for the code in the United Kingdom, where he was linked to clubs in France and England.

It would suggest his name is already being shopped around clubs in Europe for a possible move.

Toulouse and Bordeaux have been mentioned as possible clubs with interest in Hunt.

Any training Hunt has done in the past seven weeks has been isolated away from the Reds, who are focused on their opening Super Rugby clash against the Melbourne Rebels on Friday night.