Force come down hard on wine-drinking trio

Former Wallabies prop Greg Holmes is among three players at the Western Force who have gone into the bad books for drinking alcohol on the team's flight from Melbourne last weekend.

Hooker Andrew Ready and winger Byron Ralston have been stood down for Friday night's clash with the Queensland Reds in Perth.

The Force's lack of options at tighthead means Holmes hasn't been stood down for the match, but he will cop a penalty in the coming week.

It's understood the trio drank wine with their meal on the flight back from Melbourne last Sunday following the team's 28-3 win over the Rebels.

Their decision to drink alcohol when a short turnaround between games awaited them was deemed inappropriate by the team's leadership group.

The trio, who were all named on the bench against the Rebels last week, addressed the player group on Monday to apologise.