Scene of Bastareaud bashing questioned

Reuters

ATTACKED: Mathieu Bastareaud, dubbed the "French Nonu" by the All Blacks, was attacked at a taxi rank in central Wellington.

Related Links

Thugs bash French player CCTV footage crucial to French beating case

Relevant offers

Crime

Police bust nets 'substantial' cash, meth Urewera four trial: 'Gunfire' from camp Woman charged over Gisborne death Earthquake stress blamed for murder Criticism over Auckland motorway shooting Third Megaupload co-accused bailed Top cop defends police action Partner-bashing man jailed Man arrested on cocaine smuggling charges Hunt under way for young girl's attacker

The attack on French rugby player Mathieu Bastareaud – which has caused much soul searching by politicians and rugby administrators – may not have happened on Wellington streets as claimed.

The attack on Bastareaud had been reported as happening early on Sunday morning, when he was returning to his team's hotel after a night on the town after his side's loss to the All Blacks.

Bastareaud told police he was attacked from behind by five men, leaving him with a serious eye injury, but his recollection was patchy.

However, police had been given CCTV footage showing an uninjured Bastareaud walking into his hotel with two other players and two women, TV One reported.

Police planned to comment on the inquiry on Friday afternoon, Inspector Pete Cowan said.

Yesterday, police said they had identified two women who had accompanied three members of the French team back to the Holiday Inn hotel.

Holiday Inn general manager Heather Idoine-Riley said that the hotel was co-operating with police and would not comment further.

Bastareaud has returned to France to recover from his injuries.

Because Bastareaud could not identify his attackers, the French team had not made an official complaint.

Meanwhile, police have spoken to several women who were with French rugby players last weekend but have yet to speak to the two women they believe hold the key to the alleged assault case.

Inspector Pete Cowan, of Wellington Police, said several women had come forward following a police appeal for information earlier in the week.

They had been with players Saturday night and Sunday morning, in the wake of French team's 14-10 loss to the All Blacks at Westpac Stadium.

However, the two women who accompanied three members of the French team back to the Holiday Inn early Sunday morning have not been identified.

Police still want to hear from them.

''Several women have come forward and we've spoken to them which is great,'' said Mr Cowan.

''But the two women that we were trying to identify have not come forward.''

Mr Cowan again refused to say who the three French players were, or if Bastareaud, 20, was among them.

- with NZPA, and The Dominion Post