Scotland rugby players investigated over assault

THREE current Scotland internationalists and a sevens cap are at the centre of a police investigation after a club rugby player was left with a fractured skull following an early morning assault.

The quartet, which includes two Glasgow Warriors players in line to play for Scotland against Japan next weekend and one injured cap, are alleged to have been involved in the fracas at the Barbecue King takeaway shop in Glasgow’s Great Western Road that left Glasgow Hawks centre Ally MacLay seriously injured in the early hours of Sunday morning.

MacLay, a former Scotland under-21 cap, is understood to have taken himself to hospital where he was released after treatment on Sunday evening. He has been unable to return to work as a PE teacher and has been ruled out of the Glasgow Hawks team for the foreseeable future.

Police Scotland confirmed they are investigating the incident, apparently with the use of CCTV from the shop, but are yet to determine whether charges will be brought. A spokesperson stated: “We received a report of a 29-year-old man assaulted outside a takeway shop in Great Western Road in Glasgow around 01:25hrs on Sunday morning. Enquiries are continuing and no arrests have been made.”

Glasgow Warriors are currently in Ireland preparing for their RaboDirect PRO12 match with Connacht today, but due to injury and autumn Tests preparations none of those implicated in the assault are involved.

A Warriors spokesman stated only: “We do not comment on speculation.”

The Scotsman understands that Glasgow Warriors and the Hawks squads were both out at Halloween parties and that an altercation took place in the nearby Viper’s nightclub, resulting in one of the professional players being ejected. The Hawks players were in fancy dress and MacLay was dressed as Tweedledee, a character from a nursery rhyme, when the alleged assault took place.

MacLay left Glasgow a few years ago to work in Hong Kong and, having not

represented Scotland at full international level, was called up by Hong Kong in the summer and capped in World Cup qualifying matches. He returned to Scotland and re-joined Hawks, and has been a regular player in the RBS Premiership this season, featuring in last Saturday’s win over Edinburgh Accies.

Article source: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/ulster-rugby-duo-andrew-trimble-and-roger-wilson-get-ireland-recalls-29707141.html

Scotland rugby players investigated over assault