Watch boozed-up Chris Robshaw and Barbarians Covidiots break coronavirus rules in pub before cancelled England match
THIS is the moment the boozed-up Barbarians cost England and the RFU £1million as they broke strict Covid-19 bubble rules to head out on the lash.
Ex-England captain Chris Robshaw, along with a hoard of Saracens stars including Richard Wigglesworth, Jackson Wray, Manu Vunipola and Tim Swinson, were all caught downing beers in a London pub.
At one point scrum-half Wigglesworth, capped 33 times for England, leans over to Ireland international Fergus McFadden and shouts: “Fergus, f***ing drink it!”
Someone off camera before that is heard goading another player shouting: “In your gut! In your gut!”
Scotland and Lions star Sean Maitland is also in the bar along with England Under-20s rising star Joel Kpoku and Argentina’s Juan Pablo Socino.
The Barbarians had signed-up to strict bubble rules but broke them on Tuesday AND Wednesday – just 24 hours after they met-up.
In an awkward video, Swinson said in the week that: “Coronavirus has really put the kaibosh on the nights out and socialising outside the hotel and outside it’s social distancing.
“We are still doing a good job of making it good fun, but it is slightly different organisation of fun.
“We are in a privileged position in London of being one of the few groups of people that can associate with people outside of their family.
“And so we are kind of in a bubble at the hotel.
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“We have got a team room and had a games night and that sort of stuff, but getting out of the hotel is pretty much a no go at the moment.
“We have had a few beers in the team room at the hotel, but we are doing the best with can with the limits of coronavirus.
“We are doing the best we can, but it is probably not running naked down Park Lane or something.”
RFU chiefs face a seven-figure TV bill to Sky Sports, who were showing the game as the final part of a £30m deal – plus tens of thousands to sponsors.
England boss Eddie Jones binned their warm-up ahead of a Six Nations title-shot in Italy next weekend as they feared the Baa-Baas could infect England.
Robshaw is now under investigation, along with Wigglesworth and other member of the boozy ‘Dirty Dozen’.
Red-faced Robshaw, 34, said: “I want to express my deepest apologies for breaching the Barbarians’ Covid-19 restrictions by leaving the hotel post-training with some of my team-mates.
“A huge effort went into conducting this match in a safe fashion and it was irresponsible of me to break the protocols which are put in place to protect players, staff and the public.
“I understand that my actions have ultimately contributed to the cancellation of Sunday’s match.
“And I am sincerely remorseful for my role in undoing all the amazing work that went into trying to make it happen.
“I promise that I will learn from this mistake and ensure something like this never happens again.”
England’s squad are also set to be hit in the pocket on match fees that were reduced from the current £17,000 Test cheque as the game was uncapped.
And Robshaw’s regret was undermined by him liking a tweet from Piers Morgan saying that the players had just gone out for a business meeting.
Twickenham chief Bill Sweeney fumed: “We are incredibly disappointed to be calling a halt to this fixture.
“We know how much fans were looking forward to seeing the teams play.
“However, our priority is to protect the health and safety of the England squad and the other international teams they will go up against this autumn.
“There has been a great deal of effort put into Covid codes of conduct and planning for games, including cooperation with Premiership clubs to release additional players to fulfil the fixture safely.
“We are all incredibly frustrated and disappointed that the actions of a number of Barbarians players mean we no longer feel it is safe for the game to go ahead.”