Tuilagi held after jump from ferry

England rugby international Manu Tuilagi was briefly detained by Auckland police after jumping from a ferry as it was about to berth.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Oct 2011, 11:50 BST

Tuilagi, 20, swam to a nearby pier at the Auckland Ferry Terminal where he was met by police.

The Leicester centre was given a pre-charge warning for disorderly behaviour and released to the England management, who were said to be “a little bit embarrassed”.

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Auckland police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said: “A member of the England rugby team at 6.48pm yesterday jumped overboard from a ferry just before it was about to berth at the ferry terminal in Auckland and he swam to a nearby pier.

“He was then detained by police and given a pre-charge warning for disorderly behaviour and he was collected by his team management.”

It has been reported that Tuilagi was returning from a day trip to Waiheke Island with fellow England team-mates following their 19-12 World Cup quarter-final defeat by France at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday.

Neither the police nor the Rugby Football Union would confirm whether Tuilagi had been drinking at the time he jumped from the ferry. The RFU said a statement would be issued in due course.

The England players and team management began flying home yesterday, with the rest of the group departing for Heathrow today.