Care out of Six Nations squad after drinking offence

England scrum-half Danny Care will miss the upcoming Six Nations Championship after being arrested for drink driving, the Rugby Football Union said yesterday.

It was Care’s second alcohol-related incident in three weeks after he was arrested and fined for being drunk and disorderly in the early hours of December 10, following Harlequins’ European Cup defeat by Toulouse.

Although Care was also fined a “substantial” amount by his club, England took no further disciplinary action on that occasion.

But after the latest incident over the festive season, England interim coach Stuart Lancaster decided to come down strongly on the 25-year-old, who missed the World Cup with a foot injury but was certain of a place in England’s Six Nations plans.

The squad will be announced on January 11.

Lancaster has met with the 32-times capped Care, told him his behaviour was not what was expected of an England player and that he will not be included in either the senior or reserve Saxons squads.

Lancaster, appointed in an interim capacity following Martin Johnson’s resignation after England’s poor showing at the World Cup in New Zealand, where several players were involved in embarrassing and alcohol-related off-field incidents, said Care’s behaviour was “completely unacceptable”.

“I have met Danny and told him that he will not be considered for selection for the Senior or Saxons Elite Player Squads that are due to be announced on the 11th January for the forthcoming Six Nations campaign,” he said.

“This is his second arrest in three weeks for alcohol-related offences and it is completely unacceptable.”

Care was fined £10,000 by Harlequins and will be required to work on the club’s inner city coaching programme until the end of pre-season 2012-13.