Rugby star given drink drive ban

Australian-born Parks has played for Scotland 47 times

A Scotland rugby international has been banned from the road for 18 months after being caught driving while more than three times the alcohol limit.

Dan Parks, 30, was spotted by police as he swerved his car across the M8 motorway between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

A road side breath test showed he had 108 millilitres of alcohol in his breath. The legal limit is 35.

Parks admitted drink driving when he appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court. He was also fined £3,000.

The court was told the Glasgow Warriors stand-off had been on his way back to Edinburgh after a day at Ayr races with four friends.

He had been due to stay overnight with one of the friends, but was left in the lurch when his friend left in the company of a woman.

Parks decided to drive to Edinburgh airport, where his girlfriend was arriving back from France following a holiday.

He was stopped by police at 0325 BST on 19 April at Newhouse.

Early plea

Sheriff Peter Anderson told Parks, of Glasgow: "You were both irresponsible and stupid and you obviously recognise that.

"You are a man in the public eye and a role model for younger players. Don't believe your own publicity, that's when you can have a fall like this."

The sheriff said he had reduced the fine from £4,500 because of his early plea of guilty.

He also allowed Parks go on the drink drivers rehabilitation course, which would reduce his ban by three months.

Parks has played 47 times for Scotland but was absent from the recent Six Nations campaign.