Welsh Rugby
Phillips apologises to Bayonne supporters
ESPN Staff
October 25, 2013
Mike Phillips has found himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons © Getty Images
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Bayonne have denied that any decision has been made over Mike Phillips' future but the scrum-half has taken to Twitter to apologise for his recent conduct.

Phillips was alleged to have attended a video analysis session drunk, along with team-mates Dwayne Haare and Stephen Brett, the morning after their win over Grenoble in the Amlin Challenge Cup. The trio were lambasted by the Bayonne chairman and faced disciplinary hearings earlier this week.

While Brett and Haare have reportedly escaped with fines, there were reports on Thursday afternoon that Phillips had been sacked by Bayonne. However, this has been dismissed by the club and they have turned on Midi Olympique, the newspaper who broke the story.

Bayonne said in a statement: "Aviron Bayonnais Rugby Pro says that so far no decision has been made regarding the recent facts reported by the press.

"Aviron Bayonnais Rugby Pro deplores the deliberate attempt on the part of Midi Olympique and its website rugbyrama.fr to destabilise (the club) on the eve of an important game in the club season."

Bayonne host Montpellier in the Top 14 on Friday and Phillips has been left out of the matchday 22, although Brett will start the game at fly-half and Haare has been named on the bench.

Phillips, who had not commented on the matter since the news of the alleged disciplinary issued was reported on Monday, broke his silence on Twitter on Thursday night.

He said: "Sorry to all the fans of Bayonne for this situation, I agree wholeheartedly with the team for tomorrow night. good luck."

The Welshman has a checkered disciplinary record as he was fined and suspended for 10 days by relegation-threatened Bayonne for an off-field incident last year, and was banned by Wales in 2011 following a confrontation with a doorman in Cardiff.

Bayonne announced in a statement on Tuesday that the disciplinary procedure relating to the latest incident would be kept private.

The club said: "Having met on Tuesday, the players Stephen Brett, Mike Phillips and Dwayne Haare, the board of the Aviron Bayonnais Rugby Pro do not intend to communicate on the recent facts such as reported by the press.

"All the components of the club are focused on the next games, beginning with the reception of Montpellier on Friday evening at the Stadium Jean-Dauger.''

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