Scott Higginbotham’s Super Rugby career is in doubt after he was arrested for assaulting a police officer over the weekend.
Higginbotham was arrested for assaulting a police officer in the early hours of Sunday morning.
According to reports he was walking through the Fortitude Valley Mall with a friend who has been charged with public nuisance after urinating in the mall.
Higginbotham is then said to have tried to force his way into the Fortitude Valley police beat and had to be restrained by several officers.
Higginnbotham’s friend’s actions drew attention to them and the Reds play then tried to intervene.
“He has tried to play peacemaker after his mate mouthed off and it got out of hand,” a police source told the ARU.
“Assault on police (as a charge) is pretty wide ranging – this is on the low end of things.”
Queensland Police have confirmed that a a 30-year-old man had been charged with assaulting a police officer and entering a police establishment unlawfully.
Higginbotham will have to attend court on February 21 over the incident. The Reds play their first Super Rugby match on the 24th of February against the Sharks in Brisbane.
The ARU released a statement on Sunday saying that they were investigating the incident.
In it ARU CEO, Bill Pulver said: “The Queensland Rugby Union has today referred a matter to the ARU integrity unit concerning an incident involving Reds player, Scott Higginbotham in Brisbane last night,”
“The ARU integrity unit has subsequently launched an investigation into the incident today.
“As the matter is currently with Queensland Police, no further comment will be made at this time.”
