Bath deny racial abuse of Collymore

Bath have described allegations that South African centre Robbie Fleck racially abused Stan Collymore as “completely unfounded”.

The former England striker claimed Fleck had called him a “kaffir”, a derogatory term used in South Africa towards black people.

Collymore, 33, also claimed he had been assaulted by up to six players in the early hours of Sunday morning outside a burger bar in the centre of Dublin.

Bath spent the day conducting an investigation and this evening released a statement supporting Fleck.

It read: “Bath Rugby has an excellent reputation and would not condone anyone of our employees breaking the law.

“The club for many years has been a multi-cultural employer and Robbie Fleck has embraced that team ethos.

“We have concluded our own enquiry and have established that the conversations between Mr Collymore and our players took place in front of many independent witnesses.

“Our enquiries have also revealed that any allegation that Robbie Fleck racially abused Mr Collymore is completely unfounded.

“As regards to any allegation of assault upon Mr Collymore the Gardia (Irish police) attended the scene and dealt with the matter.”

Collymore was today meeting with a team of lawyers, including a QC who specialises in racial abuse, and his representative explained he planned to pursue prosecution.

Collymore gave a statement to police and went to hospital after the alleged incident, which he claims was sparked by a row with Bath players in Dublin celebrity haunt Lillie’s Bordello.

It is then said to have continued when Collymore bumped into the players again in a takeaway restaurant.

Collymore’s representative Simon Kennedy said today: “Stan was the recipient of a brutal and cowardly assault which took place in the early hours of yesterday morning.

“The assault was both physical and racial. The key part, as far as Stan was concerned, was racial.”

Kennedy said the former England striker would visit a UK police station to make a full statement, having identified 280% of the perpetrators”.

“If the Gardaí require us to go back to Dublin he (Collymore) will comply because on this issue he is blameless,” said Kennedy.

“He didn’t incite anything whatsoever. Stan was having a great night with some very nice people.

“He was karaokeing with 007 (James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan) at one point. Everything was very relaxed, the atmosphere was great. English rock bands were there, it was a nice and happy occasion.

“That turned when various members of the rugby team came in and started throwing insults at Stan.”

Bath were in Dublin for a Heineken Cup match against Leinster, which they lost 30-11 earlier in the day.