Fiji rugby international Api Ratuniyarawa, accused of committing a series of sexual offences, pleaded guilty to two charges on Monday at a court in Cardiff, Wales. The 37-year-old second row, selected in the Barbarians team to face the Welsh XV, pleaded guilty to charges of assault by penetration, British law only speaking of rape in the case of penetration with a penis, and one count of sexual assault during his appearance.
The offenses against three women took place between October 31 and November 2, before a Barbarians-Wales match in which he was due to take part on November 4 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Ratuniyarawa, however, pleaded not guilty to two other counts of sexual assault concerning one of the three women, which was accepted by the prosecution.
Released on bail
The player, who played for Agen and Northampton, was hired by the French club Bayonne in July as a World Cup joker after his club London Irish went into liquidation. His contract was terminated in October when he was called up to Fiji’s squad for the World Cup as a substitute. His selection was one of the sensations of this World Cup, ending in the quarter-final with a defeat against England in Marseille (30-24).
His lawyer, Ruth Smith, said the offense “stemmed primarily from the consumption of alcohol”. The player, married with four young children, was released on bail, but the judge placed him on the sex offenders register until sentencing on January 9. He is not allowed to leave his home at night and must report to the Northampton police station every day, details the BBC.
