Rugby Player Tuilagi Fined For Ferry Jump - Sky News

3:22am UK, Monday October 10, 2011

England rugby international Manu Tuilagi has been given a warning by police and fined £3,000 by England rugby officials after jumping from a ferry in Auckland.

Tuilagi has apologised for his actions off the field

Tuilagi, 20, swam to a nearby pier on Sunday where he was met by police.

The Leicester centre was given a pre-charge warning for disorderly behaviour before being released back to the England team management.

He was later fined £3,000 by the Rugby Football Union. The money will go to the Rugby World Cup's Christchurch appeal, in aid of earthquake victims.

Tuilagi was England's most impressive player in their 19-12 World Cup quarter-final defeat to France at Auckland's Eden Park on Saturday.

It has been reported that Tuilagi was returning from a day trip to Waiheke Island on Sunday with fellow England team-mates when he jumped off the ferry.

I'm really sorry. It was a silly thing to do.

Manu Tuilagi

Neither the police nor the Rugby Football Union explained what might have been behind the player's actions, but he has apologised and said: "I'm really sorry. It was a silly thing to do."

Manager Martin Johnson said: "This was an irresponsible thing to do. Manu has been disciplined internally and I have warned him about his future conduct."

Tuilagi had previously been fined 10,000 New Zealand dollars (£4,800) by World Cup officials for breaking the tournament's strict commercial regulations by wearing a branded gum-shield.

And the off-field conduct of some England squad members has been making headlines since a group of players enjoyed a night out drinking in Queenstown.

It led to footage of married Mike Tindall in conversation with a woman in a bar being captured on CCTV.

The England players and team management have now begun flying home from the Rugby World Cup.