29 Sep 2009

Basteraud escapes with mild sanction

9:45 am on 29 September 2009

The French rugby centre Mathieu Bastareaud has escaped with a mild sanction for lying about being attacked in a Wellington street last June.

21 year old Basteraud has been ordered by the French Rugby Federation to undergo community service which must be completed by the end of June next year, or he'll be suspended for three months.

He initially said he was attacked by up to five people as he returned to the team hotel following a 14-10 loss to the All Blacks in Wellington.

After being told on his return to Paris CCTV footage had shown him entering the team's hotel uninjured, Basteraud admitted lying and said his facial injuries were the result of a drunken fall in his bedroom.