AWOL Walker dropped from Wallabies

PERTH - Australian winger Andrew Walker has been dropped for disciplinary reasons from the squad for Saturday's Tri-Nations test against South Africa.

Walker failed to make a connecting flight from Sydney to Perth on Sunday after Australia had retained the Bledisloe Cup on Saturday with a 23-15 victory over the All Blacks in Dunedin.

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) said in a statement that team officials were unaware of Walker's location until he was contacted by telephone on Sunday night.

"While we understand Andrew's situation, we cannot tolerate players leaving the tour group without notice," Wallaby coach Eddie Jones said in the statement.

"We are in the middle of a demanding series and that means we have to be professional in everything we do," Jones added.

"Andrew is a superb player but for the good of the team, discipline must be paramount and hopefully he'll learn from this and be back in the squad very soon."

Walker, 27, a regular member of Australia's starting side this year, said he had left the squad to return home for family reasons.

"I should have told team management that I wasn't coming so I can understand that they stood me down for this match and for that I'm sorry," Walker said.

"Hopefully, I will play club rugby this weekend to show how badly I want to be back in the squad."

The former rugby league international made his test debut in last year's Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney.

He enjoyed an impressive Super 12 season for the Brumbies, who won the 2001 title with Jones as coach.

Jones took charge of the Wallabies after World Cup-winning coach Rod Macqueen stepped down in July following Australia's 2-1 series victory over the British and Irish Lions.

Australia kicked off their Tri-Nations defence with a 20-15 loss to the Springboks in Pretoria before beating the All Blacks.

Walker aims to return to the side for the September 1 match against New Zealand in Sydney when Wallaby captain John Eales plays his final test.

The Wallabies are expected to name their team for Saturday's test tomorrow.

- REUTERS