Former Wallaby Higginbotham cleared over police incident

Former Australian test player Scott Higginbotham. (Photo: www.davidmolloyphotography.com/Flickr, CC BY 2.0)

BRISBANE, Australia — Former Australian test player Scott Higginbotham has been cleared over an incident involving Brisbane police after charges against him were dropped on Friday.

The Queensland Reds player in Super Rugby was charged in February with obstructing police after one of his friends was arrested for urinating in public.

He was expected to enter a plea at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday, but police prosecutor Kevin Carmont formally dropped the charges.

Higginbotham’s lawyer Angelo Venardos said there had been extensive negotiations with police: “He is very pleased that the matter is behind him. It’s a difficult situation … but Scott has the utmost respect for the police.”

The 31-year-old Higginbotham has played 34 tests for Australia but hasn’t appeared for the Wallabies this year.