French PM gives NZ rugby apology

The French prime minister has written to his New Zealand counterpart expressing his disgust at the behaviour of a French rugby player during a tour.

Francois Fillon wrote to John Key: "I cannot express strongly enough how much I deplore this incident."

The player, Mathieu Bastareaud, was forced to admit he lied about injuries he suffered in Wellington on Sunday.

He claimed he was attacked by four or five men, but later said he had fallen in his bedroom because he was drunk.

Before CCTV evidence was produced to show that Bastareaud had walked into his hotel uninjured, the allegations of the attack had prompted Mr Key himself to apologise.

'Despicable incident'

Mr Fillon, a rugby fan, said: "His false allegations, which prompted a response from your own office, impacted negatively on the fine international image of New Zealand.

"I cannot express strongly enough how much I deplore this incident."

He added: "I sincerely hope this despicable incident won't have lasting ramifications on the mutual respect our countries enjoy."

The New Zealand prime minister's spokesman said the apology was appreciated, and that Mr Key hoped the two countries, which enjoyed a "strong rugby tradition", could "put the matter behind us".

Bastareaud, who was sent back to France from Australia on Monday, suffered facial cuts and severe bruising in what he claimed was an unprovoked attack following Saturday's loss to the All Blacks.

But he admitted he had lied after being told of CCTV footage which showed him returning uninjured early on Sunday morning, police said.

On Tuesday, the president of Bastareaud's club, Stade Francais, confirmed that the player had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital on his return to France, but declined to elaborate.