Article: Anger in New Zealand at Bastareaud's lies

French rugby team officials have been accused of colluding with star player Mathieu Bastareaud to press false claims that he was attacked by up to five men in central Wellington last weekend.

Wellington city mayor Kerry Prendergast said Friday that several French players and possibly the French team coach and doctor were likely to have known that Bastareaud's claims to have been assaulted were untrue.

Bastareaud suffered facial cuts and severe bruising in what he claimed was an unprovoked attack but has now admitted was a drunken fall in his hotel room early Sunday morning. Prendergast said Wellington and New Zealand was owed an apology by French team officials who may ...

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