Rugby players Mitchell, Addo-Carr charged with firearms offences

Melbourne, April 28

Australian rugby league internationals Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr have been charged with firearms offences after being fined for breaching social distancing rules on a camping trip at Mitchell’s property.

Melbourne Storm winger Addo-Carr was seen using a gun in a video posted on social media over the weekend, prompting an investigation by police in Australia’s eastern state of New South Wales.

The 22-year-old Mitchell on Tuesday attended a police station in Taree, near his farm on the mid-north coast of NSW, and was charged with the offence of giving a firearm to a person without a license or a permit.

Addo-Carr, 24, was charged for using an unauthorised firearm.

“Both men will appear at Taree Local Court on Tuesday 4 August 2020,” New South Wales police said in a statement.

The National Rugby League (NRL) players, along with Newcastle Knights’ Tyronne Roberts-Davis, were fined A$1,000 ($645) by police on Monday for breaching social distancing rules while camping and hunting with a large group of men.

The NRL was unable to provide immediate comment about the gun charges.

Earlier on Tuesday, the NRL fined South Sydney Rabbitohs centre Mitchell and Addo-Carr A$20,000 ($12,900), with an extra A$30,000 suspended, for “showing a blatant disregard for public health orders”.

Roberts-Davis was fined A$4,000, with A$6,000 suspended. — Reuters