Former Wallabies captain David Pocock has been released on bail after being arrested and charged after chaining himself to machinery in protest at a new Australian coal mine.
Pocock locked himself onto a digger at the Maules Creek mine in New South Wales along with a small group of others on Sunday to draw attention to its environmental impact.
The 26-year-old was arrested after coming down from the machine and was charged with entering and remaining on enclosed land and hindering mine equipment, the Leard Forest Alliance behind the protest said.
"Safely out on bail. Thanks for all the support," Pocock tweeted Monday.
The alliance, which includes farmers and environmental groups, is calling for an inquiry into the mine which has been approved by the Australian and New South Wales state governments.
Pocock was ruled out of rugby for nine months in March following knee surgery but is back training with the ACT Brumbies.
He said he joined the long-running protest and blockade at the mine in support of farmers' concerns about the impact it had on climate change and on the water table.
"I know some are very uncomfortable with breaking the law, but I feel that non-violent direct action in the face of coal mines and climate change draws on a long history of civil disobedience being used to highlight injustice," he tweeted.
The alliance said police have arrested more than 280 people since the blockade started in August 2012.
Whitehaven Coal's flagship Maules Creek project is set to be one of the world's largest open-cut coal mines, with construction on the site starting in January this year.
Whitehaven expects that the first coal will be produced in the March quarter of next year.
Pocock is next due to appear in court on January 14, reports said.
Source: AFP