Rugby: World Cup security to be heightened after weekend attack

French rugby player Mathieu Bastareaud suffered a suspected broken eye socket and needed four stitches to his face. Photo / Getty Images

Rugby World Cup organisers will take into account the bashing of a French rugby player over the weekend when deciding what security measures will be taken during the tournament in 2011.

Mathieu Bastareaud suffered a suspected broken eye socket and needed four stitches to his face when attacked by a group of four or five men in central Wellington early yesterday.

The 20-year-old centre was so badly injured by the apparently unprovoked assault he had to return home and miss his team's test against the Wallabies next weekend.

Bastareaud was targeted as he went to get a taxi to take him back to the team's hotel.

The assault came just hours after France's 14-10 second test defeat by New Zealand.

Despite the French team not laying a complaint because Bastareaud could not identify his attackers, police were appealing to the public for any witnesses to the incident.

"Wellington City has a reputation as a safe city and we take any incidence of violence seriously," area commander Inspector Pete Cowan said.

"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 were studying CCTV footage and were speaking with the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Rugby New Zealand 2011 general manager for tournament services Nigel Cass told NZPA 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."

One of the great things about rugby was that teams played hard on the field, but shared a beer immediately afterwards, Mr Cass said.

New Zealand and touring fans needed to adopt that ethos, he said.

However, all teams would also be receiving protocols on how to stay safe during the tournament, Mr Cass said.

"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."

Meanwhile, 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."

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew told Radio New Zealand the union was "bitterly disappointed" by the attack.

"I'm sure the whole country will join with me in extending an apology to the young man for being exposed to such thuggery."

- NZPA