Drunk Scots trio kicked off flight

Scotland rugby league team captain Danny Brough and two team-mates have been kicked off their Rugby League World Cup squad after being too drunk to catch a flight from Christchurch to Brisbane.

The Scottish Rugby League (SRL) confirmed Brough, Sam Brooks and Johnny Walker remained in Christchurch yesterday when the rest of the squad flew to Cairns for for their next match against Samoa next weekend.

A disappointed SRL chairman Keith Hogg said his organisation fully supported the airline’s decision to refuse to let the trio on the early morning flight.

‘‘They clearly had been drinking in an inappropriate fashion. The consequences of that became very obvious at the airport.

‘‘The airline were quite within their rights to say what they said.

‘‘They were supported by all of us.’’

Hogg said the trio were not involved in any confrontation or argument at the airport. No member of the public was involved.

He said ‘‘all three players’’ were ‘‘very contrite’’ and accepted they had ‘‘overstepped the mark’’.

‘‘It’s very easy to say that occasionally these things happen ... but whenever they do it’s incredibly disappointing.

‘‘We expect everyone involved in Scotland Rugby League to adhere to the highest standards of behaviour.

‘‘We all understand our responsibilities to the game and we must respect the sport and everyone who is involved in it at all times.

‘‘Unfortunately, these three players have not adhered to those standards and those values and will be leaving early from a tournament that it is a privilege for us to be involved in.’’

Scotland were thrashed 74-6 by the Kiwis in Christchurch on Saturday night after losing their first pool match, 50-4 to Tonga.