I'm not an alcoholic: Sailor

New South Wales and Australia wing Wendell Sailor has scoffed at the suggestion he has a drinking problem.

Sailor, who was involved in an alcohol-fuelled nightclub incident while in Cape Town with the Australia last August, was drunk and disorderly again in the same city with the Waratahs last Friday night.

He has received a one-game suspension and a fine for being involved in a scuffle with a bar patron, but that is the least of his problems.

The former rugby league star's Test career is in jeopardy as rugby officials determined to stamp out bad behaviour have the power to terminate his lucrative contract.

Sailor arrived home in disgrace yesterday from the Waratahs' tour of South Africa.

When asked at a media conference at Sydney airport yesterday whether he had a drinking problem, Sailor said: "I'd laugh at that.

"I don't drink that much ... not to the extent that it is going to worry me, (and) not that I'm an alcoholic or have a drinking problem.

"I probably should have (known better) but that's a good part of me, thinking you can go out and have a couple of quiet ones. It was only a couple of hours. It wasn't like a massive one- or two-day drinking binge.

"But it was enough to do some damage, not just to the province but to the union and obviously my teammates and my family and friends, who have been big supporters of me.

"It is not a good feeling at the moment. I love what I do, but I'm not too impressed with myself at the moment."

Sailor may not have a drinking problem, but drinking has certainly given him problems.

With the Australian Rugby Union and NSW Rugby Union to hold a code of conduct hearing into his latest misbehaviour in Cape Town, Sailor's career is in the balance.

Sailor is looking at anything from a 28-day suspension to the termination of his contract.

Wallabies coach John Connolly has made it clear he will not tolerate off-field misbehaviour.

"I haven't thought too much about that," Sailor, who rubbed his hands nervously during the media conference, said.

"I've heard John Connolly say he wants to get it right on and off the field. I can understand that.

"I suppose at the back of my head it is worrying, but I haven't spoken to Knuckles.

"At the moment I've got a squad of 30 blokes at the Waratahs I've got to prove myself to again."

Sailor suggested he would look to curb his exuberant personality in the future.

"I'm a pretty outgoing person," he said. "I'm pretty outspoken. I just need to come back a little bit on some of those things. I like to think I'm a pretty mentally tough person.

"I'll go to training tomorrow and know I'll have to work hard to get back to where I am but I know there's no guarantee of me being back in the 22.

"People are talking about Test jerseys, you might not play Tests again. If I don't, I've certainly had a very enjoyable career.

"At the same time ... (Waratahs coach) Ewen McKenzie took a massive risk with me. He was told he shouldn't sign me and he did, and he was happy when I came here. I've let him down."

Greg Martin, a former Test fullback and now a Fox Sports rugby commentator, suggested yesterday that Sailor's future may be limited to Super 14 rugby.

But former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer last night was stunned at the punishment the Waratahs meted out to Sailor, describing it as harsh.

"If what I read is right then I think New South Wales have overreacted," Dwyer said. "The punishment doesn't fit the alleged crime.

"Of what I know of Wendell Sailor, he has a very, very good reputation. The Wendell Sailor I know is positive, disciplined, and punctual.

"I had him as a player on a Barbarians tour of the UK and his behaviour was exemplary, however I do recall a previous incident with another motorist.

"But, in saying that, I believe what happened in South Africa to be totally out of character for Wendell."

Queensland coach Jeff Miller described Sailor's latest off-field fallout as a "shame", saying his emotional state on the night could have been affected by his treatment from Reds fans during his first game at Suncorp Stadium since leaving the state last year.

"I know that he's struggled after his game up here at Suncorp," Miller said.

"He took that to heart where he probably shouldn't have. He should've realised that it was all mostly said in good fun. So it is a shame that he's followed it up with that. I'm sure it did (affect him)."

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