The English rugby club Saracens have apologised for sending captain Steve Borthwick to a beer festival in Munich instead of yesterday's Heineken Cup launch in Cardiff.
Former England skipper Borthwick was the only captain missing from the 12 English, Welsh and Scottish qualifiers at the Millennium Stadium to present a tournament that is itself sponsored by a beer brand.
The club, who now face a four figure fine, had told the European Rugby Cup that the virtually teetotal Borthwick had an "important club meeting" that turned out to be a team-bonding day trip to the Oktoberfest.
The Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths says the decision was his and apologised.
