2 Jul 2009

French PM Fillon condemns Bastareaud's lying

6:45 am on 2 July 2009

The French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has written to his New Zealand counterpart John Key condemning the 'unjustifiable' lies of rugby player Mathieu Bastareaud, who claimed he had been attacked in Wellington.

Fillon Bastareaud seriously undermined the reputation of New Zealand and its inhabitants and he's asked Key to "please believe this deplore this incident,"

His letter says rugby has always helped the two nations to mutual respect and he hopes these feelings will last after "this unfortunate event".

Bastareaud, 20, is reported to be a pyschiatric hospital after a suicide attempt.

He said he had been assaulted as he returned to the team hotel after the second test then admitted lying after being told CCTV footage from the hotel showed him returning uninjured.