England's recent Rugby World Cup campaign looks set to go down in infamy as one of the most controversial in the team's history. Unfortunately, the side's list of inglorious incidents continues to grow, despite the fact that England were eliminated from the competition on Saturday, courtesy of underdogs, France.
Suspensions, harassment, and violent fouls; the illegal swapping of rugby balls, mid-match; a breach of sponsorship regulations, and an appearance at a dwarf-racing competition; England's collection of misdemeanours reads like the script of a comedy film. Those following the Rugby World Cup betting will have been unimpressed by the goings on.
However, the squad's winger, Manu Tuilagi, capped his country's catalogue of incivility, by jumping from a ferry, into the Auckland harbour. The bizarre act followed an England day-trip to Waiheke Island, a location known for its wineries and beaches.
Manu Tuilagi swam to a nearby pier, after disembarking the craft, where he was detained by the local police force. The 20-year-old was given a warning by officers, before being released. The Rugby Football Union has not been quite as lenient; Tuilagi has been fined £3,000, a fee that will be given to a New Zealand charity. It is currently unknown whether Tuilagi's escapade was alcohol-related. Fans of Betfair Rugby World cup action wouldn't have been impressed either way.
England coach, Martin Johnson, was annoyed with Tuilagi, "this was an irresponsible thing to do. I have warned him about his future conduct." While Tuilagi has apologised for the incident, referring to his impromptu swim as a "silly thing to do", the Leicester Tigers player will no doubt have upset rugby fans back in England.
Last weekend's mischief was the second event to have cast Tuilagi in a negative light, in just over a month. The aforementioned breach of sponsorship regulations involved Tuilagi and his brother, Alesana, wearing branded gum shields. The pair were fined £3,800 a piece, for their trouble. "I'm really sorry", Tuilagi said, in reference to his aquatic adventure, last weekend.
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