Wallaby winger Wendell Sailor returned home in disgrace from the NSW Waratahs’ rugby tour of South Africa on Wednesday saying the nightclub incident that led to his early departure was a low point in his career.
Sailor has already incurred a one-match ban and a fine from team authorities after he reportedly pushed a man to the ground outside a Cape Town nightclub early on Saturday and vomited on the footpath while intoxicated.
He will also face an Australian Rugby Union code of conduct hearing later this week, when his international career could be in the balance following another indiscretion last year with the Wallabies in the same city.
”I would say it’s probably the lowest point of my career,” Sailor told reporters after arriving in Sydney.
”I’ve certainly had some good times but I think leaving the team bus and leaving to go to the airport by myself knowing I had to face the media and face the public, it’s not the sort of time you want to come home, especially when the boys have got another game to go.”
Sailor, a high-profile recruit to NSW from Queensland this year, apologised to his new team.
”I’ve certainly put a bit of pressure on the franchise and they’re been great to me … so I’m pretty embarassed about what went down,” he said.
Sailor’s former Queensland coach Jeff Miller said the burly winger’s behaviour may have stemmed from his hostile reception before his former home crowd in the opening match of the season, when he was jeered and called a traitor.
”I know that he’s struggled after his game up here at Suncorp, he took that to heart where he probably shouldn’t have,” Miller said.
”He should’ve realised that it was all mostly said in good fun. So it is a shame that he’s followed it up with that. I’m sure it did [affect him].” – Sapa-AFP