Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Mathieu Bastareaud admits he lied about being assaulted in New Zealand

Friday, June 26, 2009

Mathieu Bastareaud admits he lied about being assaulted in New Zealand

Young French centre Mathieu Bastareaud, who initially made claims that he’d been attacked by between four and five men in Wellington on the weekend, has now changed his story and admitted that he actually lied about what actually happened.

Bastareaud sustained several facial injuries in New Zealand after a night out, with his original story being that he got them from a racial attack by a group of thugs on the streets of Wellington. It has now been revealed, that they actually came from a drunken fall.

He suffered a broken eye socket, facial cuts, and severe bruising. The ‘attack’ was such an embarrassment for the country ahead of the 2011 World Cup, that the New Zealand Prime Minister even issued a written apology, along with the mayor of Wellington.

He is now back in France, where he came clean about the story. Mayor Kerry Prendergast is furious, especially as it seems that he wasn’t alone in the cover up.

"There were other players involved, the team doctor was involved, the coach (was involved) because he got sent back so quickly. This is wider than just one player and I think we need an apology.

"My understanding is that other players knew about it, so we can’t just say that this is one player. Clearly the doctor who did the stitching and the fact that he was sent back... other people knew."

Security footage has shown him returning to his hotel uninjured with four other people, at 5:22am. He's said that he made up the story to avoid getting in trouble with the French RFU.

"On Saturday evening, I returned to the hotel after having drunk too much," he said.

"I fell in my bedroom and scarred my cheekbone on the table in the room. I was ashamed and panicked and I thought I would be sent packing by the team management.

"I told the original story because I thought it would be believed, but given the coverage it has subsequently received I thought it would be better to tell the truth."

We’re yet to find out what kind of punishment the 20 year old Stade Francais player will receive. Perhaps the shame and worldwide criticism he'll face is enough at this stage.

Time: 04:45

dissapointing to see someone dig themselves into a whole like that. you have to feel bad imagining how stupid he felt so props to him for telling the truth.

realistically though, what an idiot. there are a lot of better reasons for his bashed up eye he could have come up with other than drunkeness

By bigox, at June 26, 2009 5:14 pm
*hole

By bigox, at June 26, 2009 5:20 pm
il faut bannir ce poids lourd au cerveau léger, au moins 2 ans,de toute compétition internationale, et présenter de sincères excuses aux Kiwis.

By Anonymous, at June 26, 2009 5:21 pm
hes young and naive, leave him off

By Anonymous, at June 26, 2009 5:34 pm
i just want peoples to forgive this story. He made a mistake (a big) and he will pay for this.So let him in peace.

By Anonymous, at June 26, 2009 5:38 pm
Ce gars doit être radié à vie de l'équipe de France, ce qu'il a fait est inexcusable.

By Anonymous, at June 26, 2009 5:43 pm
au précédent anonyme: you suck, french class is the try that heymans scored, for instance. Bastareaud is an other dick, the planet being full of them

By Anonymous, at June 26, 2009 5:49 pm
I like Bastareaud as a player, but being French, I think that this behaviour is a shame. I hope he'll be punished soon.

By Anonymous, at June 26, 2009 6:24 pm
what an idiot.

By goodNumber10, at June 26, 2009 6:25 pm
Wow ban for life ? je pense pas et espere pas...
Seriously; yes it is shameful, yes it is even worse for the NZ who took him seriously and apologized for a wole nation who didn't do anything wrong.
Now consequences to that ? nobody is injured paralyzed or what not...
It is a diplomatic problem rather than a sportsmanship..
So He should get something but I do hope certainly not for life as yes he is young and still some what dumb or light... but there is no serious injuries or consequences to that... other than him appearing as a fool to the whole rugby world.

By jay, at June 26, 2009 6:40 pm
Sure his behaviour and lies both deserve punishment, and brought shame on France and French rugby.

But he is young and he was drunk, and I don't think many people criticising him have always avoided those situations, so don't be too quick judge him.

Pour les français qui le taillent si facilement, que celui qui n'a jamais été jeune et bourré lui jette la première pierre. Bande de branleurs !

By Runo, at June 26, 2009 6:43 pm
He is young and he made a stupid mistake.

By Anonymous, at June 26, 2009 6:56 pm
what an idiot. pros should know that they should be extra cautious when representing their country in another rugby nation. or anywhere. stupid.

By Anonymous, at June 26, 2009 6:56 pm
I m french. This guy is a shame. He has the honor to play agains NZ which the RUGBY.

Impossible to excuse. He s a dick and he should be banned for 2 years or something like this.

By K, at June 26, 2009 7:09 pm
It was a stupid thing to do and no doubt he is very embarrassed, but this does call for punishment. Maybe not a ban or suspension but he needs to be made an example of.

By T, at June 26, 2009 7:25 pm
.........i understand everything...he got drunk, bashed his noggin, then made up a tale about it, then admitted afterwards.....i just dont have a clue what that guy with the stripey shirt was on about.....was he trying to be funny, or sound cool when talking about women?!?

By Anonymous, at June 26, 2009 7:27 pm
Another victim of Kiwi slappers....

By Anonymous, at June 26, 2009 8:20 pm
He made a stupid mistake and then made it worst by making a poor error of judgement. young, naive and maybe a little stupid.

But you cant stop the guy playing rugby for it...get a grip guys, he only fell over drunk.

Also it is odd that he claimed racial assualt, whats that all about? Why couldnt he just say assualt? Was he trying to make it seem more dramatic. Im yet to actually meet a real racist person, its only black people on tv and the like, that ever tell us that they apparently still exist absolutely everywhere.

By dr, at June 26, 2009 8:31 pm
"Im yet to actually meet a real racist person, its only black people on tv and the like, that ever tell us that they apparently still exist absolutely"

Where do you reside? I'd love to live there! Sounds like a fantastic fucking place.

I'm white and i haven't been anywhere void of racism... Ever.

And while reverse racism does exist what you said sounds profound. And to be honest, racist. Atleast by textbook definition. It's only blacks that are racist? LMAO

Come to Burnley, England. Or anywhere in England, or Europe, I'll show you racism.

Go to Australia, NZ, South Africa. Canada, America, Mexico, the Southern Americas. You'll find plenty of racism.

You either live under a rock, are in complete denial, or have found an extremely advanced and rare place on Earth where people are past racism.

As it stands I think you're just a bit of an idiot

By Anonymous, at June 26, 2009 8:46 pm
Scum bag... ban him!!!...

By Not Happy, at June 26, 2009 8:52 pm
I think when most of us were 20 we did really stupid shit when drunk. Luckily we were not playing international rugby and subject to world wide publicty!!

By Anonymous, at June 26, 2009 9:14 pm
Like every french fans, i'm very ashamed about all this polemic. It's just show how bad the power of a rumor can be...

I think that the NZ and french federations are very concerned by the polemic. Because of the future RWC in NZ, this accident take (too?) huge proportions. Pierre Camou and Jo Maso are furious against Bastareaud, maybe more than police and wellington mayor

i understand that newzealanders must have been shocked. But i think this polemic must not fall in bullshits rumors like: racial attack, french players with prostitutes or that thedoctor or jo maso know about the incident and hide it...
Bastareaud is a great player, but very young, i think the FFR will "take care" of him very quickly.

I don't know if he must be banned,maybe for x months. He must be very ashamed and confused now and it seems to be the worst punishment

In France, we say "que celui qui n'a pas fauté lui jette la première pierre" everybody should think about it

He deserves a good kick in his fat ass, no more

By Flooz, at June 26, 2009 10:07 pm
Why on earth would anyone recommend a ban or any other rugby-based consequence?

It's not as if he had some poor conduct on the pitch; he just made a dick error in his moral judgment.

Maybe fly him back to NZ and have him apologize to all those who apologized for NZ on his behalf, as they're the ones he made a fool of...oh, and give him a big ol' boot to his backside.

By Elliot, at June 26, 2009 10:28 pm
wtf is reverse racism? surely racism from a white person to a black person is the same a it would be if it were a black to a white person. THEY ARE BOTH ACTS OF RACISM!

I like in Glasgow, one of the most ethnically diverse (and dangerous) areas in the UK. And the main "hate crimes" that occur here happen in asian gangs(mainly pakistani muslim)were whites are the victims.So dont lecture me.

Most people just want to get along and Im talking about all racial groups.

Of course racism still exists in the world u twat! But we are talking about a french rugby player in NZ..he was clearly talking shit.

Oh, and before you call me an idiot, practise ur writing skills and grammer ;)

By dr, at June 26, 2009 10:34 pm
I dont get it, I've been drunk soo many times, really wasted... and never got injuries like that.. I just dont get it

By Anonymous, at June 26, 2009 11:49 pm
That was written on on scrum.com about the incident "...appeared on Sunday with a bruised and swollen face......Bastareaud is suffering from significant facial bruising"

The first story was bullshit and why bring on such a story, which definitely brings media attention. But hey come on guys that new story is a bit fishy too. These injuries from falling over drunken? There were two other players with him? Seems to me there was a bit of a disagreement between the players or something else should be hidden.

By Jochen, at June 26, 2009 11:49 pm
For the guys who use the facts that he was young and drunk as an excuse, these excuses usually work, but not on a professional player...
You CAN'T decently be a professional sportsman only being full of muscles, you have to use a little bit your brain and being able to answer to medias which is part of the job since it's become professional.

That is unforgivable, that's been 3 or 4 times Bastareaud is making mistakes in or out a rugby pitch, each time medias say "it was a youth mistake", that's enough.
He just can't be a professional for now.

From a french guy

By ToulouseFan, at June 27, 2009 12:32 am
What's all the fuss about.
It's not like he danced all over cars in a heathrow car park causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

He just told a lie.

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 12:48 am
As a french i felt so sorry for NZ. This guy is a *$¨$ù^ ¨$ùùù. I don't want him in france team forever :@

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 12:49 am
"wtf is reverse racism? surely racism from a white person to a black person is the same a it would be if it were a black to a white person. THEY ARE BOTH ACTS OF RACISM!

I like in Glasgow, one of the most ethnically diverse (and dangerous) areas in the UK. And the main "hate crimes" that occur here happen in asian gangs(mainly pakistani muslim)were whites are the victims.So dont lecture me.

Most people just want to get along and Im talking about all racial groups.

Of course racism still exists in the world u twat! But we are talking about a french rugby player in NZ..he was clearly talking shit.

Oh, and before you call me an idiot, practise ur writing skills and grammer ;)"

......................

And I live in Glasgow, BNP heartland. Don't lecture me about racism or minorities, please!

I know your kind. You're a flat out racist who talks nonsense.

Before you critiscise my writing ability learn to spell 'grammer' correctly.

And reverse racism is people claiming they're forever the victims of racism.

It doesn't matter if its a white person crying about that or a black person.

You're a primative neanderthal. Get a clue.

And one more thing, tere pu benchod.

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 12:53 am
While he is an idiot for doing what he did, and not being able to know not to drink to much I must give him props for coming clean....Took alot of balls to do it after the lie he told so let him be..I'm sure he'll be punished justly..

By themull, at June 27, 2009 1:23 am
"Why on earth would anyone recommend a ban or any other rugby-based consequence?"

Personally i think this is the best comment on this right now!!

in all honesty he made an idiot out of himself, and lied....

i agree that he "shamed" french rugby etc.......but really who could possibly suggest a ban, if the french team choose not to pick him because of the shamefulness its up to them, but to physically ban him is ridiculous!

By No.7, at June 27, 2009 1:35 am
Ahah il a pris une cuite énorme et a raconté une saucisse, c'est pas grave..
Un ou 2 matchs de suspension et on tourne la page, ça arrive à tout le monde une petite erreur.. Et pourtant je n'aime pas le personnage.

be cool my friend
:)

By Graffiti Coiffure, at June 27, 2009 2:33 am
He's going to be the laughing stock for a while.
But seriously, when it invovled wasting police resources, it can't be taken lightly and I hope he learnt his lessons.
That aside, I hope Graham Henry's slamming of the fans behaviour is not forgotten. No excuse can justify pelting (half) empty bottles at visiting teams

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 3:41 am
Reverse racism is something that occurs when people try too hard to make up for racim they had committed or avoid racism that actually causes discrimination against another race.
Look at the Boks selection policy, which is border line to that

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 3:43 am
I don't think some people are realising the gravity of his error. If he said that wherever YOU'RE from was a violent place where people get picked on by groups of thugs, and then got an apology from the mayor, and had the name of the city badmouthed, I'm sure you'd all be pretty annoyed too. And yes it maybe was a youthful error, but that's still not an excuse. I'm young too, but I still think he's a stupid asshole for doing what he did. If he doesn't make a public apology...I won't be happy anyway.

By Kearney for tests, at June 27, 2009 3:45 am
What does that mean by the way "que celui qui n'a pas fauté lui jette la première pierre"? I tried translating it but it doesn't make much sense to me. Is it something like 'He who is right should be the first to forgive'? Or am I very wrong?

By Kearney for tests, at June 27, 2009 3:49 am
"If he said that wherever YOU'RE from was a violent place where people get picked on by groups of thugs, and then got an apology from the mayor, and had the name of the city badmouthed, I'm sure you'd all be pretty annoyed too."

Sticks and stones...who cares.

Benchod? Tu madarchod!!!!! :)

By Snoopy, at June 27, 2009 6:04 am
The bloody prime minister of New Zealand apologised to him.
What an idiot for putting himself in this position.
He needs to be punished and the kiwi's are owed a big apology.

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 8:25 am
That lying Bastareaud!

Seriously though, New Zealand hotel rooms are pretty dangerous. Just ask Matthew Johns.

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 8:43 am
He's probably gonna get beaten up for real next time he goes to NZ.

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 8:46 am
this is quite a funny turn :) what a fool

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 8:50 am
Kiwi here, I reckon it's a good thing that he still had the good sense to admit his lie and set the record straight. A slap on the wrist should be enough.

That said, LOL silly bugger.

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:21 am
its not the end of the world.

20 year old rugby player does something stupid.

stop press.

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:36 am
Yep. Made a fool of himself (and, funnily enough, of the NZ Prime Minister LoL).
Anyway, stupid behaviour, suspended for a couple of games and years of banter yet to come from his team mates... I just hope that nobody in Wellington needed the police while they were on a hare chase.
Sort of reminds me of Doug Howlett thrashing cars in London a couple of years ago...:-)

I love how this is all getting blown out of proportion by the media and the politicians (both French and Kiwi). Everyone I talked to in NZ just laughed their ass of with this story. On the other hand, they were deeply concerned about the incident in Dunedin (suckers throwing bottles at the French team). It's completely the other way round for the media and the politicians. Go figure. Go for the easy target, I guess. Sad, though.

By Nico, at June 27, 2009 11:15 am
I agree with 'anon June 27th 9:36' what about Danny Cipriani's 'F Bomb' interview- he was a young player, as is Basteraud, and everyone has forgotten about that now. I don't think any further punishment is needed

By humper, at June 27, 2009 11:38 am
I think is should fined by the french rugby board and in turn banned for a short time.
it has happened in NZ with other players doing stupid stuff but not this internationally serious! would you get the french PM saying sorry to nz if it was the other way around?
he was an idiot and I bet he regrets it, but he represents his country and if france dont punish him, then they basically are telling everything that they dont mind this kind of action.

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 3:58 pm
It's caught in the clip how he got his injuries. Look at 3:37 where he clearly wacks himself on the head with a dumbell whilst ''pumping iron''. LOL, stupid French Frog

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 5:08 pm
When the story of Bastareaud's assult first broke here, everyone was making H Bomb NZ, and slurring all Kiwis (if you don't believe it re-read the comments).
I would like to know where all these people went? I'm not going to hold my breath for any I sorry comments

I would also like to point out that Bastareaud only came clean following pressure from NZ police (who had video evidence that he wasn't hurt when he said he was). Bastareaud also wasn't alone in the footage and had other french players with him at the time (one identified as the captain) which strongly suggests it wasn't just a silly drunk mistake, but a delibrate attack on NZ

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 3:05 am
As a kiwi I was deeply upset about the 'assult' and was deeply shocked and upset about it.
I can't understand what Bastareaud was thinking? "I'll just make up a assult story and make NZ look bad".
And Wellington isn;t the type of city where you will get beaten up in the city centre (esp not if you are 120 odd kgs)

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 3:16 am
WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?
he was stupid and admitted it. Are we going at war with NZ for one guy?
I think he knows he was stupid. Will we execut him and his career for one mistake?

Like said an anonymous, he didn't play the hooligan in a foreign country like howlett did he? Anyway, I didn't give a shit and make a fuss about it

Wasn't as much as a shame for France than the attitude of NZ supporters during the two tests. At least it was only ONE guy

By kevdetoulouse, at June 28, 2009 7:12 am
kevdetoulouse said: he didn't play the hooligan in a foreign country like howlett did he?

Howlett didn't claim he was beaten up by gang of thugs while a guest in another country, I don't think the cases are comparable.
But I wouldn't go overboard in punishing Bastareaud, he realises he made an idiot of himself and a heartfelt apology and some sort of fine should be enough.
I wonder if the people who saw the original story as proof that all NZers are aggressive racists will now see the true story as proof that all Frenchmen are lying drunks? Both conclusions are just as stupid.

By robbert, at June 28, 2009 8:18 am
The other players are Fulgence Ouedraogo & Louis Picamoles from what l'equipe has said. I felt sorry for him, then I was angry and now I can't stop laughing at the idiot. I hope he gets a years ban from international rugby because he needs to learn that this was a huge mistake.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 1:36 pm
IMO the more information we get, the more stupid the story gets.

First explanation, Bastareaud claims he got beat up in the street by 4 people. What, do they have rugby player bashing nights over in Wellington? Would any guy with the common sense of a duck come up with the idea of trying to pick up a fight with a 120kg rugby player?
The second explanation sounds like that of a kid going to school with a black eye, saying he fell down the stairs coz he won't admit his dad beats him up.

No matter which way you turn the story Bastardeau made a fool of himself

By piaruskov, at June 28, 2009 10:48 pm
OOOOOK! Robbert, I got it!
The fuss is about a racist attack? Is that why it's such a big deal?
Living in Mexico, I don't really get the fresh info.
Anyway, everybody is going to laugh at him in France or abroad during the next decade. Believe me, he'll pay his mistake with or without being banned

By kevdetoulouse, at June 29, 2009 4:03 am
This attitude is not excusable in any way, I'm 19, been drunk quite a few times, and I never ever could imagine to lie about being assaulted for any reasons, especially when I'm not in my hometown (I don't even talk about doing that abroad...)
Bastareaud is a shame to French Rugby, and as a French rugbyman, I almost felt ashamed myself to have the same nationality as this guy, there is no racism involved there, his acts were just disgusting... Don't you think that it would have been easier for everybody if he had told the truth ? He just won a game against the AB's, for me that is a "good" reason to get drunk, and well, accidents happen when you're drunk... To me, if he had told the truth, that his injuries were caused by his fall, I would have just laughed a bit, certainely Marc Lievremont woulnd't have laughed as much as me but come on...
I don't want to see that idiot wearing the Blue jersey for a year at least ! He must prove some major improvements in maturity to play for a national side.

By Ben, at June 29, 2009 12:18 pm
Sur un point sportif bastareaud sera une perte si il y a effectivement sanction ( sachant qu'un mec qui prend un joli rail à une soirée est défendu par la france parce que "jeune" et "fragile", non Gasquet ne prendra pas 2ans Et la comparaison entre ces 2 affaires est IMPOSSIBLE ) , mais sur le plan humain je pense qu'il n'a rien à faire en équipe de france.
D'après moi il est loin d'avoir l'esprit et de comprendre l'ideologie rugbystique française.

Mettons en avant des joueurs comme Mermoz, Martin ou Heymans ...

By Unknown, at June 29, 2009 5:29 pm
Sur un point sportif bastareaud sera une perte si il y a effectivement sanction ( sachant qu'un mec qui prend un joli rail à une soirée est défendu par la france parce que "jeune" et "fragile", non Gasquet ne prendra pas 2ans Et la comparaison entre ces 2 affaires est IMPOSSIBLE ) , mais sur le plan humain je pense qu'il n'a rien à faire en équipe de france.
D'après moi il est loin d'avoir l'esprit et de comprendre l'ideologie rugbystique française.

Mettons en avant des joueurs comme Mermoz, Martin ou Heymans ...

By Unknown, at June 29, 2009 5:29 pm
Update as he apparently tried to commit suicide (don't know the truth behind that) and is being hospitalized as of now...
Euh perso pour un truc aussi minime ca ferait mal de perdre un super espoir rugbistique et surtout une vie humaine pour un truc aussi ridicule.

By jay, at June 29, 2009 6:23 pm
Yes i've just read L'équipe. It looks like he tried to commit suicide.
Really hard to come to such a situation.

By K, at June 29, 2009 8:13 pm
I m french and can say it s not the first time Bastareaud misbehaves, he embarrassed France with his lies, he should be banned from french team for a time.
But surely the embarrassement of his mistake will be the greater punishment for him.
Apparently he's in the hospital now because he tried to kill himself, clearly this whole story went too far! He misbehaved but medias should let him go now!

By Hacman, at June 29, 2009 8:22 pm
The story seems to take a sad turn:

"French newspaper Le Parisien on Sunday suggested that it was in fact one of Mathieu Bastareaud’s teammates who 'calmed him down' with a fist and left him with a bruised eye and requiring stitches."

Seems that sounds more true than the other stories.

And now he is in a psychiatric hospital due to his poor mental condition

By Jochen, at June 30, 2009 12:10 am
Give the lad a break. Talented player with some poor personal judgement off the pitch. He's very young to be put in such a privileged position and so combine that with his judgement and then alcohol and this kind of farce almost seems inevitable. Nobody died, only he was physically injured and I'm sure NZ can handle an apology in due course and not let this harm the country's national esteem for long.

By Anonymous, at June 30, 2009 10:43 am
I read the news too, and damn that was sad.

I hope this recent turn of events won't end his career in rugby. Dude owned himself, but he's taking it too harshly.

By Anonymous, at June 30, 2009 3:07 pm
I 2OOO% agree with the 2 anons above. That story is going too far and that boy doesn't deserve such a sad thing. Every Frenchman should give a support to him.

Soutien à Bastareaud, il ne mérite pas de supporter tout ça.

By Anonymous, at June 30, 2009 9:48 pm
This guy is a 20 years old that has rised from the french 3rd division to an international tour in 2 years...He's from Paris' suburbs where violence is very common and didn't think that being attacked in NZ as it "could happen everywhere in the world" would give a bad image of NZ...He was stupid to lie, and didn't think about his international player responsibilities.Now this story has gone way too far...
He was harassed by french medias that are now digging his private life (even inventing a cancer for his dad) and tried to kill himself.
He apologized, France apologized, now lets move on...

PD: is it a coincidence that since Bastareaud's saga nobody speaks anymore about Dunedin flying bottles?

By Unknown, at July 07, 2009 12:40 pm
It's a shame that such a huge deal was made of it, it would've been much better just to say he got drunk. New Zealand certainly wont enjoy being blamed for something which never happened.

However. I think maybe a year ban, miss one season for France or something like that, not 3 years. That's too much in my opinion.

~J

By Anonymous, at November 06, 2009 5:15 pm