Springbok scrumhalf Ricky Januarie has not been arrested for failing to appear in the Bellville Magistrate's Court on drunk driving charges, Western Cape police said on Monday.

A warrant of arrest was issued after Januarie did not appear in court on Friday.

Sergeant Bernice Laas-Bezuidenhout said he had not been arrested as the case docket had not yet been returned from court to the detective branch at the Durbanville police station.

Bellville magistrate Helma Smit ordered the warrant for Enrico Ricardo Januarie, better known as "Ricky", be "executed immediately", after he failed to appear in court for the second time.

Januarie, 27, faces a charge of reckless or negligent driving after he crashed his car in Fairtrees road, Durbanville in September last year.

Smit ordered the arrest when he failed to respond to his name being called out three times in court.

His lawyer Frikkie Erasmus was also absent.

Prosecutor Marco Chandler told the magistrate he had tried unsuccessfully to reach Erasmus by telephone during the morning tea adjournment.

He said Erasmus's office had informed him that staff had tried all week to track down Januarie to ensure his appearance on Friday, but they were unaware of his whereabouts.

Chandler said he had informed Erasmus's office that a warrant for Januarie's arrest would be issued.

Smit said Januarie failed to appear in court in July, as he had then been with the Springboks during the Tri-Nations tournament.

At that time he had been granted permission not to appear in court.

Smit said a warrant for his arrest had been authorised then, but had been held back pending his court appearance on Friday.

Sapa

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