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Bayonne reported to have suspended Mike Phillips
ESPN Staff
October 24, 2013
Mike Phillips is facing an uncertain future © PA Photos
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Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips has reportedly been suspended by Bayonne with a decision over his long-term future likely to be decided in the next 48 hours.

Reports in the French press on Thursday suggested Phillips had been sacked by the Top 14 side after reportedly turning up for a video analysis session under the influence of alcohol. However, Wales Online claims Phillips has been suspended with a decision "on his future to be made tomorrow or Saturday".

Phillips, along with two team-mates Dwayne Haare and Stephen Brett, met the club's directors earlier this week to account for their behaviour. Midi Olympique claims Haare and Brett have been fined while Phillips has been reportedly suspended. The alleged incident occurred the day after the Amlin Cup win over Grenoble.

Bayonne chairman Alain Afflelou took a very dim view of their actions, saying: "I'm furious - outraged. This is unacceptable and not worthy of a professional player. It shows a lack of respect for the club's partners and the public. This is not the first time and we are sick of it. It's shameful."

Phillips has a chequered history as far as discipline is concerned. He was suspended by Bayonne in 2012 because of misconduct and by Wales a year earlier after an altercation in Cardiff city centre. He joined Bayonne following the World Cup in the autumn of 2011.

Phillips was included in Wales' squad for the autumn Tests earlier this week and regardless of what decision Bayonne come to, it looks likely Warren Gatland will stick by him.

Gatland said of Phillips: "All I can say over the last campaigns with us he has been great. He conducted himself extremely well with the Lions in Australia, both on and off the field.

"I am expecting that same sort of attitude from him when he is involved in this (autumn) campaign. Obviously, there are slight concerns about making sure this is something that does not continue to be repeated.

"We will just sit down and have a quiet chat about where his head's at and what he's doing, but there will be no sanctions for him here in this set-up."

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