This is the moment the overcrowded barbarians cost England and the RFU £ 1 million for breaking strict Covid-19 bubble rules to get the whip.
Ex-England captain Chris Robshaw and a hoard of Saracen stars like Richard Wigglesworth, Jackson Wray, Manu Vunipola and Tim Swinson were caught drinking beer in a London pub.
3
At some point Scrum-Half Wigglesworth, who has played 33 caps for England, bends over to the Irish international Fergus McFadden and shouts: “Fergus, drink it!”
Someone who wasn’t in the camera before went on another player and shouted: “In your stomach! In your stomach!”
Scottish and Lions star Sean Maitland is in the bar, as is aspiring English U20 star Joel Kpoku and Argentine Juan Pablo Socino.
The barbarians had followed strict bubble rules, but broke them on Tuesday AND Wednesday – just 24 hours after the meeting.
In an awkward video, Swinson said in the week, “Coronavirus really got the Kaibosh up in the evenings and socialized outside of the hotel and outside of its social distancing.
“We still do a good job of making it fun, but it’s a slightly different organization of the fun.
“We are in a privileged position in London of being one of the few groups of people who can connect with people outside of their families.
“And so we are in a kind of bubble in the hotel.
3
SHOCK BAA BILL
Robshaw and Barbarians Covidiots cost England £ 1 million in Sky Sports bill and pay
Whales of a time
Rugby France vs Wales: kick-off time, TV channels, live stream and team news
Joy of six
Ireland vs Italy rugby: kick-off time, TV channel, free live stream, team news
BAABAAS IN BAR BARS
England against barbarians in DOUBT after the exuberant evening of rugby stars
TV times
Which Six Nations games will this year’s tournament be played on the BBC and ITV?
“We got a team room and we had a game night and stuff, but leaving the hotel is pretty much a no-go at the moment.
“We drank a few beers in the hotel’s team room, but we’re doing the best with cans with the limits of the coronavirus.
“We’re doing our best, but it’s probably not walking down Park Lane naked or anything.”
RFU bosses face Sky Sports with a seven-digit TV bill that showed the game as the last part of a £ 30 million deal – plus tens of thousands of sponsors.
England boss Eddie Jones ended his warm-up ahead of a six-nation title shot in Italy this coming weekend, fearing the Baa-Baas could infect England.
Robshaw is currently under investigation, along with Wigglesworth and other members of the drunk “Dirty Dozen”.
Red-faced 34-year-old Robshaw said: “I would like to sincerely apologize for violating the Barbarians’ Covid-19 restrictions by leaving the hotel with some of my teammates after training.
“It was a great effort to play this game safely and it was irresponsible of me to break the protocols that were put in place to protect players, staff and the public.
3
“I understand that my actions ultimately contributed to the cancellation of Sunday’s game.
“And I am sincerely remorseful for my role in undoing all of the amazing work that has gone into trying to make this happen.
“I promise that I will learn from this mistake and make sure it never happens again.”
The English squad are also slammed on the game fees, which have been reduced from the current test check of £ 17,000, as the game was not capped.
And Robshaw’s regrets were undermined by liking a tweet from Piers Morgan saying that the players had just gone out to a business meeting.
Twickenham boss Bill Sweeney was furious: “We are incredibly disappointed that we have canceled this game.”
“We know how excited the fans were to see the teams play.
“However, our priority is to protect the health and safety of the English squad and the other international teams they will face this fall.
“A lot of effort has been put into improving Covid’s codes of conduct and planning for games, including working with Premiership clubs to release additional players who will safely complete the game.”
“We are all incredibly frustrated and disappointed that, due to the actions of some Barbarian players, we no longer believe that it is safe for the game to continue.”
