Collymore alleges rugby assault

Stan Collymore has retired from professional football

Ex-football player Stan Collymore has alleged he was assaulted in a clash involving Bath rugby club players.

The former England and Liverpool star claims he was attacked by a group in Dublin city centre on Sunday after an exchange of words in a nightclub.

It is understood Collymore, who lives in Staffordshire, may have suffered a broken nose in the incident.

Bath lost to Leinster in a Heineken Cup match at Lansdowne Road in the Irish capital on Saturday.

It is understood Collymore had an exchange of words with a group including some of the club's players in exclusive nightclub Lillie's Bordello, just off Grafton Street.

Facial injuries

The footballer is believed to have later clashed with the group after meeting them by chance at a fast food outlet.

A Garda spokesman confirmed officers were investigating an incident in Grafton Street at 0330 GMT on Sunday.

"A man was treated at St James's Hospital for facial injuries after the incident," he said.

The spokesman said the man had made a complaint to officers at Pearse Street station in the city.

No-one has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Collymore was in Ireland to appear on a TV show with Irish premier Bertie Ahern's novelist daughter Cecilia.

Bath rugby club said in a statement on Monday morning: "We will not be releasing a statement until we have sat down and considered all the facts available to us."

The Rugby Football Union also issued a statement which read: "At this stage the RFU is monitoring the matter carefully and has asked Bath for a copy of their report to be forwarded with their recommendations to the RFU's disciplinary officer at their earliest convenience."

Collymore's agent Simon Kennedy claimed the former player had been the victim of an unprovoked attack.

"It is his present intention to make criminal complaints as a result of the incident and he is presently taking legal advice on that issue," Mr Kennedy said.