A rugby star from London Irish, Api Ratuniyarawa, has been accused of sexually assaulting three women while partying with his team before a match. Ratuniyarawa, who was scheduled to play for the Barbarians against Wales in Cardiff, was dropped from the squad and appeared in court instead. The alleged incidents occurred at the Revolution bar in Cardiff, where Ratuniyarawa was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning. He has been charged with sexual assault by penetration and by touching, but he denies the accusations.

The Barbarians team, including Ratuniyarawa, was seen drinking in the city on multiple occasions, even dressing up in a Wild West theme. The alleged sexual assaults took place at the Revolution bar in Cardiff.The alleged sexual assaults occurred at the Revolution bar in Cardiff. The women involved did not know each other and the assaults happened independently. Ratuniyarawa, a second-row forward who has played for Fiji 38 times, was named as a replacement for the Barbarians team. Prosecutor Michael Evans stated that Ratuniyarawa is accused of penetrating two of the women with his finger and touching the breast and body of a third woman. The women and Ratuniyarawa were not acquainted before the incidents. In footage from a Barbarians training session, Ratuniyarawa was seen playing alongside his teammates. He was also seen smiling during the session next to former Wales player Alun Wyn Jones. Ratuniyarawa, who only confirmed his name and address, was remanded on strict bail conditions and placed on an electronic curfew from 7pm to 7am. Magistrate Peter Hamley prohibited Ratuniyarawa from returning to Wales until his court appearance.Ratuniyarawa is scheduled to appear in Crown Court on December 4. As part of his bail conditions, he is prohibited from entering any licensed premises that sell alcohol, including bars, clubs, and restaurants. He has also been instructed not to contact any witnesses involved in the case.

A spokesperson for the Barbarians team stated that they fully cooperated with South Wales Police as soon as they were contacted. They provided assistance during the investigation and are unable to provide further comment at this time due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Ratuniyarawa, from West Northamptonshire, has been charged with sexual assault by penetration and by touching. The charges stem from an incident during Fiji’s game against Wales at the Principality in Cardiff in 2021. A photograph of Ratuniyarawa tackling Ryan Elias during the match is included.

Ratuniyarawa was set to receive £15,000 for playing in the Barbarians match on Saturday. However, due to the charges against him, it is unclear if he will still participate in the game.

In addition to the legal issues, Ratuniyarawa was also due to play for Fiji in the recent Rugby World Cup in France. However, he withdrew from the squad in July for family reasons. A photograph of Ratuniyarawa in action during a previous match is included.

Being selected to play for the Barbarians is considered a prestigious honor. The team, which has a history dating back to 1890, is an invitation-based side.

The Barbarians team arrived in Cardiff at the beginning of the week to prepare for their match against Wales. They were seen drinking in the city on multiple occasions and even had a Wild West-themed team meal at a French restaurant.

Welsh rugby legend Alun Wyn Jones is captaining the Barbarians team for this match. After the game, he will retire from rugby, having achieved the record for the most international appearances with 170 caps for Wales and the British Lions.

Players who participate in the Barbarians match will receive a payment of £15,000. However, it remains uncertain if Ratuniyarawa will still receive this payment due to the charges against him.Api Ratuniyarawa, a 37-year-old man from West Northamptonshire, is set to appear before Cardiff magistrates on charges of sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by touching, according to a spokesperson from South Wales Police. Ratuniyarawa had previously been selected to play for Fiji in the Rugby World Cup in France, but withdrew from the squad in July due to personal reasons.

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