Fiji Rugby Player Api Ratuniyarawa Charged with Sexual Assault Ahead of Barbarians-Wales Match

Fiji international stands accused of assaulting three women in a Cardiff club, receiving bail and being replaced in the matchday squad; court hearing set for December 4.

• Fiji international rugby player Api Ratuniyarawa has been charged with sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by touching three different women in a Cardiff club, with the incidents occurring separately over a night out with his Barbarians team.
• Ratuniyarawa, who denied the charges in court, has been bailed to appear before a crown court on December 4. His bail conditions require him to stay out of Wales, except for court proceedings, comply with a nightly electronic curfew, abstain from entering venues that sell alcohol, and maintain distance from witnesses in the case.
• The assaults allegedly involved Ratuniyarawa penetrating two of the women with his finger and touching the breast and body of a third woman. These incidents transpired between October 31 and November 1 while he was with other members of the Barbarians team.
• Ratuniyarawa, who recently featured for Fiji at the Rugby World Cup in France and has played for English clubs Northampton Saints and London Irish, was set to play in the Barbarians-Wales match as a replacement but has since been removed from the matchday squad.
• The Barbarians, an invitational team with players from many nations, have cooperated fully with South Wales Police's investigation into the allegations against Ratuniyarawa, and Wales international Aaron Shingler was called up to replace him in the match.

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