Adam Ashley-Cooper’s mother has spoken out in defence of her son, saying that excessive alcohol consumption is not the reason he has been stood down.
The versatile Ashley-Cooper is one of six players who has been stood down by Ewen McKenzie for breaking team protocols and not arriving back to the team hotel before midnight and having consumed “excessive amounts of alcohol”.
Ashley-Cooper is the most senior member to have been sanctioned, but according to The Irish Independent his mother took to Australian radio to defend her son amidst more stories of boozy antics in the Australian camp, which she says are wide of the mark for her darling Adam.
“These players are now being made an example of, but because Adam’s the most senior player, they’re coming down on him the hardest,” she told Triple M.
“So he’s missing a game for not upholding the behavioural and cultural standards of an elite athlete representing the Wallabies. He said he’ll cop it and move forward but he’s really upset because they are claiming excessive and inappropriate alcohol intake by him, and alcohol was not the problem. It was the time he got home.”
The move has gathered a lot of attention, but a former Wallaby has come out in favour of his former team-mates, saying there are bigger issues to deal with then a few late night drinks.
The saddest thing is that some players think drinking a few beers is worse for the culture than texting shit behind their teammates backs
— Drew Mitchell (@drew_mitchell) November 18, 2013
A point of information for the touring Wallabies, Edinburgh is a great spot to head out, so best of luck resisting the temptation there.
