Former Australian rugby league international Blake Ferguson sacked by club after arrest on drugs charges in Japan
- The 31-year-old winger played for more than a decade in Australia’s National Rugby League and represented his country seven times
- Ferguson took a contract with NEC Green Rockets after failing to secure a new deal with the Parramatta Eels at the end of the 2021 NRL season
Former Australian rugby league international Blake Ferguson has been sacked by Japanese rugby union side NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu after he was arrested on suspicion of drug offences.
Ferguson, who recently switched codes after playing for more than a decide in Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL), joined the club after failing to secure a new deal with the Parramatta Eels at the end of the 2021 season.
However, Green Rockets, where former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is director of rugby, said it had cancelled the 31-year-old’s contract.
“Regarding Ferguson, the player contract was cancelled on January 2,” the club wrote in a statement.
In an earlier comment, the club confirmed Ferguson’s arrest “on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs”.
“We deeply apologise for causing a great deal of concern and inconvenience to everyone involved,” the club added. “Our team will cooperate fully with the police investigation and strives to understand the situation.”
New Zealander Joel Everson served 23 days in a Japanese prison in 2020 after testing positive for the use of cocaine while playing for Hino Red Dolphins.
