Rugby star's drink-driving ban

Colin Charvis has previously headed a police anti-drink-driving campaign

Former Wales rugby captain Colin Charvis has been banned from driving for two years after admitting driving while twice the legal alcohol limit.

Cardiff magistrates heard the former British Lion, 36, had drunk eight pints before staying at a friend's but left in his Range Rover early next morning.

He was arrested on Sunday 4 October at 0545 BST after police spotted his vehicle swerving on a road in Cardiff.

Charvis, who once headed a police anti-drink campaign, was also fined £900.

The ban will be reduced to 18 months if he takes a rehabilitation course.

The court heard a breath test showed Charvis, of Swansea, had 87 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

David Cooke, prosecuting, said: "Police spotted a Range Rover swerving across the carriageway in front of them.

"They spoke to Mr Charvis and could smell intoxicants on his breath. He confirmed he had been drinking, saying his last drink was around midnight.

'Embarrassment'

"He said he had drunk probably eight pints."

His solicitor told the court the publicity surrounding the case had caused his client "personal and professional embarrassment".

Andrew Jones, defending, said the offence was caused by an "error of judgement" rather than blatant disregard for the law.

Mr Jones said Charvis had gone back to a friend's house in Cardiff Bay following their evening out and spent the night there because "he was not in a fit state to drive" home to Swansea.

He said: "When he woke the following morning, he no longer felt intoxicated and decided to go home that morning."

He added that Charvis "may have changed lanes while turning the radio on".

District Judge Gerwyn Watkins said he had reduced Charvis's sentence as he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

But he said it had to reflect the level of alcohol in his system, his poor standard of driving and a previous conviction - for drink-driving in 1998.

Charvis, captain of Wales 22 times between 2002 and 2004, is now defence coach at Newport Gwent Dragons.

As a player, his 22 tries made him the leading try scorer in international rugby as a forward.

He has previously spearheaded an anti-drink-driving campaign, appearing in an awareness video called "The Mourning After".