Rugby Player Charged With Drink Driving

The 25-year-old was stopped in the early hours of New Year's Day at Winchester Services on the M3.

He will admit the charge, he said.

The news comes just three weeks after the Harlequins scrum-half was arrested and fined for being drunk and disorderly.

At the time the club's director of rugby Conor O'Shea said: "It is a lesson he will learn.

"Danny has apologised. He won't make the same mistake again."

Today, Care apologised again.

He issued a statement saying: "I do understand the need for England players to be role models in the game and have tried to live up to that at all times, but have made a couple of stupid decisions in the past weeks.

"I can only hope for the chance in the future to prove those decisions were the exception, not the rule.

"I am devastated because my actions have let so many people down."

He added: "I do accept that I made a very bad decision on the evening in question and need to take the punishment that the courts hand out.

"I have decided not to contest the charge as I want to bring this to a close swiftly rather than have it hanging over my head for a year or more.

"I would stress, though, that at no time did I think I had drunk enough to be over the legal limit.

"However, I should not have got into the car and have to accept the consequences of that action.

"I am devastated not to be selected for the Elite Player Squad for the Six Nations as I felt I had been playing near the top of my game with Quins.

"However, I wish the team, and the other number nines who come in to play, the best of luck as playing for your country is the highest honour in the game and I will miss it hugely.

"It's now up to me to get my head down, keep playing well and learn from my actions."

A spokesman for Hampshire Police said Care will appear before Southampton magistrates at 9.30am on January 16.