Former Australia captain David Pocock has been issued with a formal written warning by the Australian Rugby Union after he was arrested on Sunday.

Pocock, 26, was arrested during a coal mine protest in north-west New South Wales, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The paper said that Pocock was among around 30 protesters who joined a blockade at the Maules Creek mine, chaining himself to machinery.

Flanker Pocock, who is currently injured and has not played for Australia since undergoing knee reconstruction surgery in March, is due to appear in Narrabri Local Court on January 14.

The Morning Herald said Pocock was among seven people arrested and charged with offences including entering enclosed land without a lawful excuse.

In a statement, the ARU said: “The Australian Rugby Union has issued a formal written warning to David Pocock following his arrest yesterday.

“While we appreciate David has personal views on a range of matters, we’ve made it clear that we expect his priority to be ensuring he can fulfil his role as a high-performance athlete.

“The matter is now subject to legal proceedings, and we will now let the legal process take its course.”