Australian Rugby Union warns David Pocock after arrest

Pocock, a former captain of the Wallabies side, was later charged - including for trespassing - for protesting at the site of a coal mine in northern New South Wales.

The 26-year-old openside flanker was bailed to face court in January, and the ARU condemned his actions on Monday.

"The Australian Rugby Union has issued a formal written warning to David Pocock following his arrest yesterday," a statement from the governing body read.

"While we appreciate David has personal views on a range of matters, we've made it clear that we expect his priority to be ensuring he can fulfil his role as a high-performance athlete.

"The matter is now subject to legal proceedings and we will now let the legal process take its course."