Powell dropped after drink-driving charge incident

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Andy Powell's Six Nations campaign is effectively over after Wales reacted to his charge for drink driving by dropping him from their squad. In a move that places a question mark over his Test future under head coach Warren Gatland, the Welsh management have suspended Powell for "behaviour contrary to the squad's code of conduct".

Powell was arrested on Sunday with a golf buggy at a motorway service station, the morning after Wales completed a dramatic comeback to beat Scotland 31-24 at the Millennium Stadium. South Wales Police said Powell was charged with "driving a mechanically propelled vehicle whilst unfit through drink".

The team manager, Alan Phillips, set no date for his return. "Andy knows he has misbehaved and is apologetic, but he also knows that he must take responsibility for his own actions and accept the repercussions," he said. "This kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated."

Wales' decision to take a hard line will have been simplified by Powell's disappointing form so far in this Six Nations, playing out of position at blindside flanker.

Gatland must decide whether to start with Sam Warburton, who made an impression from the bench against Scotland, or move Jonathan Thomas to blindside flanker. Should Gatland take the second option, Bradley Davies, Ian Gough or Luke Charteris could fill Thomas' second-row spot.