French Rugby
Bastareaud handed community service
Scrum.com
September 29, 2009
France centre Mathieu Bastareaud talks to the press at Marcoussis, February 24, 2009
Mathieu Bastareaud has been ordered to complete community service © Getty Images
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France centre Mathieu Bastareaud has been ordered to complete community service as punishment for fabricating a story about being attacked following a Test defeat to New Zealand in Wellington in July.

Bastareaud, 21, falsely claimed that he had been mugged after returning to his Wellington hotel after the 14-10 loss at Westpac Stadium. The claims forced a police investigation and a public apology from New Zealand Prime Minister John Key. Bastareaud's allegations were exposed as completely false when CCTV footage showed him entering the hotel uninjured, with a drunken fall later causing facial injuries.

After returning home, Bastareaud was reportedly hospitalised with severe psychological problems and allegedly tried to commit suicide. A French Rugby Federation (FFR) disciplinary hearing ruled that he must complete 18 activities to benefit amateur rugby by 2010 or face a three-month suspension from playing. The player will not appeal.

He has returned to Top 14 action with Stade Francais but will not be considered for selection by France coach Marc Lievremont for the upcoming November Tests. France face New Zealand on November 28 in Paris, with Bastareaud coming back in to the frame for next year's Six Nations.

"It's a good sanction," Lievremont told AFP. "It's good that an international player will go to rugby schools. He is available for selection. With this sanction, he again becomes a player like any other, even if it seems complicated to pick him for the November Tests, as I have told him. But I never envisaged that we'd be without him for the 2011 Rugby World Cup."

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