Collymore quizzed by gardaí over 'assault'

Former Premiership star Stan Collymore flew into Dublin today to speak to gardaí about an alleged assault on him by Bath rugby players last weekend.

The 33-year-old was being interviewed by gardaí at the garda station at Dublin Airport.

The incident happened last weekend when Collymore was in Dublin for an interview on an Irish chat show.

He said he became involved in a fight with members of the Bath rugby team outside a fast food restaurant in Grafton Street.

Collymore alleged he was provoked when Bath’s South African international centre Robbie Fleck racially abused him.

The claims are denied by sources close to the Bath team.

Collymore did not initially give a statement to gardaí about the assault, which left him with a broken nose and bruising to his face. But he flew into Dublin today to outline his version of events in a statement to gardaí.

The head coach of Bath Rugby Club said today the players claimed they were “set up”.

The club has investigated the incident and said on Monday that any allegation of racial abuse was unfounded.

Coach John Connolly said today: “We honestly believe that they (the players alleged to have been involved) were totally blame free and the accusations were not true and have no doubt they were set up.”

In Dublin, Bath had played and lost against Leinster in a Heineken Cup tie.

Collymore claims the incident was sparked by an exchange of words in celebrity haunt Lillie’s Bordello in Grafton Street in which he alleged the girlfriend of a Bath player called him a “w*****”.

A Bath player then stepped in and called him a “f****** Kaffir”, he said.

Connolly acknowledged that this week had not been “a smooth run” but said the club would continue to back the accused players “110%”.

Asked whether external factors were distracting players from their rugby, he said: “You just have to deal with the two things totally separately – the rugby side of it and the off-field issues and then not involve the players who are not involved in the off-field issues.

“They have got to be kept away from it all and you just work your way through one issue at a time.

“Players that are involved in the non-field issues have to feel confident that we are resolving the issues so they can concentrate on rugby, so their fears have to be laid to rest.”

He went on to say those questioned over the incident in Dublin had to feel confident they were getting the best legal advice so they could move forward.

Gardaí confirmed they had begun a criminal investigation into the incident.

“We’re in the preliminary stages of the investigation,” a Garda spokesman said.

Collymore’s interview began at 11am and he was due to fly back to England at 6pm, after missing a scheduled book signing in Nottingham at 5pm.

The player, who has an exclusive deal with a newspaper, was accompanied to the interview by his solicitor and his agent.