World Cup shame for Scots trio

SCOTLAND rugby league captain Danny Brough and two of his team-mates were dismissed from the squad yesterday after being too drunk to board the flight to their final World Cup fixture. Despite being the country’s most capped player of all-time, Brough’s international career looks certain to have ended in disgrace after he and team-mates Sam Brooks and Johnny Walker continued drinking well into the night following Scotland’s 74-6 defeat to New Zealand in their second group game. The trio were not allowed to board the plane when the rest of the squad flew to Cairns in Australia for their final group game with Samoa and, instead, were left in New Zealand before being sent home. Scotland’s management team supported the airline’s decision and informed the players they

would play no further part in the tournament. They will now face charges of misconduct from the national governing body. ‘We expect everyone involved in Scotland Rugby League to adhere to the highest standards of behaviour,’ Scotland Rugby League chairman Keith Hogg said. ‘We fully support the code of conduct that is in place for everyone who is involved in the World Cup. ‘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.’ Losing three of their key players in such circumstances adds to the embarrassment suffered by Scotland in the showpiece tournament. They travelled to the southern hemisphere full of confidence after making the last eight in the 2013 World Cup. But the Scots lost heavily in both of their opening matches against Tonga and New Zealand. Against the South Sea Islanders, they lost 50-4. It got even worse against New Zealand with the Kiwis winning 74-6. Brough (pictured), who was Super League’s Man of Steel in 2013, became Scotland’s most-capped player when he made his 24th appearance in the game against Tonga. Coach Steve McCormack must find a new captain and quickly lift his side after they conceded 124 points in their opening two matches. After the defeat to New Zealand, he said: ‘It was always a danger that, if we didn’t turn up and be at our best, something like that could happen. ‘I’m really disappointed in that performance, although I thought New Zealand were really good. In the first half, they had 21 or 22 offloads and played really well. ‘We had no ball and New Zealand were fresh and technically very good. ‘We have a young squad and we’ll learn lessons from that. The key is to make sure we turn up with a better attitude in future.’