Bastareaud facing lengthy France ban

FRANCE centre Mathieu Bastareaud can expect a lengthy ban from representing France after he caused uproar with lies that he’d been mugged while touring with the national team in New Zealand earlier this year.

Francois Alguacil, president of the Federation Francaise de Rugby (FFR) disciplinary committee said that the Stade Francais centre could face a considerable time out of the international game.

“I think he will be banned from the squad for between one and three years,” said Alguacil. “This was offensive to the French team, but also to the governments of New Zealand and France.”