Aussie code-hopper pleads guilty to 'drug-driving' charge

NEWS: Former England dual international Sam Burgess pleaded guilty to driving with an illicit drug in his system.

However, he avoided a conviction in an Australian court Tuesday.

Appearing at Moss Vale Local Court south of Sydney, Burgess was ordered to attend a traffic offender's program and handed fines for driving an unregistered car and for not holding a local licence, according to court documents.

In February, the 32-year-old was stopped by police while driving down a highway about 100 kilometres (60 miles) southwest of Sydney and given a roadside drug test, which he failed.

Burgess spent most of his career in Australia with South Sydney, while also playing 24 Rugby League matches for England.

He also made a brief code-switch, playing five rugby union Tests for England, including at the 2015 World Cup.