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Arrest leads to Powell axing

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 16/02/2010
Rugby Union betting

Back-row forward Andy Powell has been dropped from Wales' Six Nations squad after being arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The 28-year-old was arrested along with another man at a service station near junction 33 of the M4 motorway, with one of the two men later charged with drink-driving in an incident involving a golf buggy.

Wales team manager Alan Phillips confirmed: "This kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated in a professional, elite sporting environment and we have acted quickly and incisively in order to leave no ambiguity over the dim view we take of this situation.

"The player has made his private apologies to the Welsh management team as well as apologising in a public statement and we have also asked him to apologise to the Vale Resort Hotel, before asking him to leave the squad.

"We will now leave the South Wales Police service to conclude the matter and we will be making no further public statements at this time."

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England team manager Martin Johnson refused to be too downbeat despite seeing his side struggle to eke out a 17-12 victory over Italy in Rome's Stadio Flaminio.

Hopes were high for a positive display following a 30-17 win over Wales last week, but Johnson's men found themselves under pressure right up until the final whistle as they struggled to break down the determined Azzurri.

However, Johnson told BBC Sport after the final whistle: "It shouldn't have been that close at the end, but we didn't take our opportunities.

"We created some really good try-scoring chances, but didn't finish them off and missed some kicks as well."

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie does not think he will find it easy to ever leave the club.

The Dutchman, who has been out of action since November after injuring his ankle while on international duty, has been chased by four clubs despite being sidelined.

He has been with Arsene Wenger's side since arriving in north London from Feyenoord in 2004, and said: "It is good that four teams were really interested in me but I had to turn them down.

"Even if you want to leave, as a player, I don't think it is easy because when you move to Arsenal you are led there by your heart."

West Ham United frontman Carlton Cole says that he had no interest in jumping ship during the January transfer window.

The 26-year-old England international has only recently returned from a couple of months out due to a knee injury and says that his only priority is to help the Hammers move clear of relegation danger.

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