Wales international Sam Davies believes a drinking incident on tour might have contributed to him missing out on two years of international rugby.
The fly-half didn’t win another cap following the incident in 2017 until a change of coaches following the Rugby World Cup with Wayne Pivac replacing Warren Gatland.
“It was the last game of a long old season, my first full season with Wales and I had enjoyed it with some great experiences, so I decided to let my hair down,” revealed Davies.
“I drank too much vodka with Scott Baldwin and Aaron Shingler, who could probably drink a bit more than me.
“I went a bit deadweight on the way to the airport so the boys had to carry me around. It was not the greatest look for somebody in an international set-up.
“The flight then got cancelled and I had to get carried back. So we are not talking about a good impression on that trip.”
“The coaches did not speak to me (about the incident) but they did speak to the leadership group and they told me,” said Davies.
“Essentially it did have a massive effect on my career at that time.
“I am not saying I came off the back of that trip playing really good rugby because I was struggling with a groin injury as well but it definitely did not help my image at the time.
“I was silly but everybody makes mistakes. Luckily it did not make the papers. Maybe I had to go through that to get where I am now.
“I have learned because I did not get back into the squad until last year for the Barbarians game.”
JOIN THE RUCK:
Six times rugby players seriously MESSED up
Here are six times rugby players and coaches seriously messed up…
1 Martin Castrogiovanni in Vegas, 2016
Italy prop Martin Castrogiovanni had been suspended by his club Racing 92 after pictures of him partying in Las Vegas surfaced on social media with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The 34-year-old had told Racing that he could not play in their Champions Cup semi-final clash with Leicester Tigers as he had a family matter to attend to in Argentina. Naughty boy.
