26 Jun 2009

French offer apology for Bastareaud lie

6:51 am on 26 June 2009

The manager of the French rugby team is offering his sincere apologies to New Zealand after a French player lied about being beaten up in Wellington.

Mathieu Bastareaud initially claimed he was attacked by a group of people outside the Holiday Inn in Wellington in the early hours of last Sunday morning.

But he now says he had drunk too much and had fallen in his bedroom, injuring his cheekbone.

Basteraud said he panicked and thought he would be sent packing by the team management.

Jo Maso says everyone is shattered by what has happened.

Mr Maso says the matter is a "great shame" particularly since John Key had sent a letter of apology to the French.