British & Irish Lions

Manu Tuilagi plays the prank on the Prime Minster © Getty Images

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Former British & Irish Lions hooker Brian Moore has described Manu Tuilagi as a "prat" after he played a prank on Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday.

Tuilagi was part of a Lions entourage visiting Downing Street for an audience with the Prime Minister who was congratulating the players on their series win over Australia in the summer. While the official photocall was taking place, Tuilagi gave Cameron 'bunny ears' with the footage an immediate social media hit.

Tuilagi has since apologised for the prank but he has previous in this field having been hit with a fine for jumping from a ferry in Auckland harbour after England were knocked out of the 2011 World Cup. And Moore has said it is time for Tuilagi to grow up.

"My real objection is it wasn't very inventive," Moore told talkSPORT. "If he had unveiled a banner asking why primary school funding is being cut in two years' time, I might have had a laugh. People are saying they are offended. Are they really offended, or is it more a case of [Tuilagi] being an absolute prat again and taking the attention away from his team-mates?

"Manu ought to understand that sort of juvenile attention seeking behaviour should be reserved for where it is more appropriate, which is Prime Minister's Question Time! He has been a complete and utter prat. He ought to grow up, it's as simple as that, but people saying they are offended, are they really offended?

"Why are you not offended about the fact that Cameron seems to be quite happy to preside over a government that has seen a 70% increase in the use of food banks? Now that is offensive. The authorities I'm sure will do what they should do and say, 'Manu, everyone thinks you are a two-year old, do you really want that? Now go away and grow up please'."

And England World Cup-winner Matt Dawson said he was "embarrassed" by Tuilagi's prank.

My view on Tuilagi/PM. I'm utterly embarrassed. When will some learn, there's a time and a place. #dontpoohonthePMsdoorstep #BTSportRugby

— Matt Dawson (@matt9dawson) September 17, 2013

Manu Tuilagi incident grabbing the headlines. Not my type of thing. Slightly cringeworthy. Don't stone him for it.

— Will Greenwood (@GreenwoodRugby) September 17, 2013