Rugby players have attracted the unfavourable attention of the police frequently, more often for bad behaviour off the pitch than foul play on it:

1. England's Olly Barkley was not considered for this year's Six Nations Championship because of a pending court case for alleged assault, a charge subsequently dropped.

2. Gavin Henson, the Wales centre, received a summons last December after a charge of disorderly conduct on the train home from London following a club match. This case was also subsequently dropped.

3. Rhys Thomas and Rhodri Gomer-Davies, of Newport Gwent Dragons, were cautioned at a court appearance in Treviso last year after local police were assaulted and a car damaged.

4. Doug Howlett, the New Zealand wing now with Munster, was arrested at Heathrow last October on suspicion of causing criminal damage to two cars.

5. Jeremy Guscott, the former England centre, spent five days in Bristol Crown Court in 1999 before being cleared of a "road rage" attack on an antiques dealer in Bath.

6. Three Pontypridd players involved in a brawl in a bar in Brive after a Heineken Cup match in 1997 were prevented from returning to France to play while under legal investigation.

7. Simon Devereux, the Gloucester lock, was sent to jail in 1996 for grievous bodily harm after breaking an opponent's jaw during a second-team match.

8. William Hardy, a junior club player, was cleared of manslaughter in 1995 after punching an opponent who subsequently died from brain injuries.