Police are investigating an apparently unprovoked attack on a French rugby player just hours after his team lost to the All Blacks in Wellington.
Mathieu Bastareaud will miss France's test against Australia and return home with a suspected broken eye socket and four stitches after he was attacked in central Wellington by a group of men early yesterday morning.
The 20-year-old centre was attacked by four or five men as he went to get a taxi to take him back to the team's central Wellington hotel France's 14-10 second test defeat by New Zealand.
Area Commander Inspector Pete Cowan said police had not received an official complaint about the incident but were investigating.
"We would have liked for the matter to have been reported to us immediately at the time of the incident however we're making our own inquiries into what happened."
Police had spoken to the New Zealand Rugby Union and viewed CCTV footage as part of their inquiries, Mr Cowan said.
"Wellington City has a reputation as a safe city and we take any incidence of violence seriously."
He appealed for witnesses to come forward.
The French team spokesman, Lionel Rossigneux, said they had not made a complaint to police about the attack because Bastareaud could not identify his attackers.
"When we were talking with him and asking him if he could give a description, he said `No, I didn't even know there were four or five, they just came quickly upon me and hit me ... and I didn't have time to realise what happened'.
"By the time he went back to the hotel, we phoned the team doctor and the team doctor gave him four stitches, what would be the point in calling the police?
"In the end there wouldn't be any way to find the people involved."
The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) has said the attack may damage New Zealand's reputation as a host for international rugby.
But French coach Marc Lievremont told Le Monde newspaper: "This could have happened in Perpignan, Paris or Biarritz, you come across four idiots who have had too much to drink and beat up a guy on his own.
"It is out of the question to blame New Zealand and its supporters."
Lievremont said an incident at the first test, when bottles were thrown at the French as they celebrated their win, was an isolated incident.
"It's true there was some misbehaviour at the first match which was quite surprising for rugby supporters. But I would like to think that was a one-off."
The French team are now in Sydney ahead of their test against the Wallabies this weekend.
NZRU chief executive Steve Tew told Radio New Zealand the union was "bitterly disappointed" by the attack, which struck at its reputation as host of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
"I'm sure the whole country will join with me in extending an apology to the young man for being exposed to such thuggery."
The rugby union was told about the incident as the French team were leaving the country for Australia yesterday.
"We'll be in close touch with the team over the next couple of days to make sure they understand that any support they want we can offer them, but ... they are pretty keen to move on from the incident," Tew said.
In a statement NZRU General Manager Professional Rugby, Neil Sorensen, said: "We have expressed our concern and support to the French rugby union and their team management on their departure from New Zealand and explained that this is not typical behaviour for the vast majority of New Zealanders or our rugby fans.
"This type of incident undermines our efforts to be welcoming and tolerant and harms our international reputation as good rugby hosts."
"We offered to have him stay until the end of the tour with us, but he preferred to go back to France and go back to his family," he said.
"It's a sad story I'm afraid."
Bastareaud, who is a cousin of veteran France central defender William Gallas, was to undergo a scan on his injuries in Australia before heading back to France.
"Bastareaud is suffering from significant facial bruising," said the team doctor Jean-Philippe Hager.
"He will undergo another scan on Monday in order to check that he is not suffering from a more significant injury."
Meanwhile, Rugby World Cup organisers will take the incident into account the when deciding what security measures will be taken during the tournament in 2011.
Rugby New Zealand 2011 general manager for tournament services Nigel Cass said they were working with the police on the development of high level security framework for the world cup tournament.
"That involves a number of levels of risk assessment and the number of levels of planning - both around the tournament itself, but around the individual teams.
"Clearly the events over the weekend are just another factor that we'll need to take into account in terms of that high level planning."
He hoped New Zealand's safe reputation had not been badly tarnished since the attack on Bastareaud.
"We'll be working very hard both to ensure the teams and the fans that come here from offshore are safe, but also to encourage New Zealanders to take their responsibilities as hosts very seriously."
Mr Cass said all teams would also be receiving protocols on how to stay safe during the tournament.
"It's about letting teams know it's a very safe country, but as with most safe countries, wandering about by yourself at 2am does have some risks and they do need to be aware of that and plan for it.
"We'll also be making sure there are very clear lines of communication between the teams, ourselves and the police so that if anything happens we can take action very quickly."
Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast has said the council had no plans to improve security measures in the city, such as increasing the numbers of closed circuit television cameras along some streets.
"I'm convinced this was an isolated incident. "
The assault on Bastareaud was "deplorable, despicable and cowardly", Ms Prendergast said.
"I hope that mates of these five dob them in."
- NZPA, NZHERALD STAFF
Anyone with information on the alleged assault should contact Wellington police on 04-381-2000
