04 December 2023 , 15:04
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An international rugby player has admitted to sexually assaulting three women in a single evening at a nightclub.
Api Ratuniyarawa, 37, plays for Fiji and the Barbarians, and admitted to committing the awful crimes just a few days before he was supposed to line up against Wales. He was pictured training with his country in the day of October 31 before sexually assaulting three different women that very night.
He committed the offences at the Revolution nightclub in Cardiff, before he appeared at Cardiff Crown Court today where he pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault, in respect of three women.
He pleaded not guilty to two further accounts of sexual assault, which was accepted by the prosecution, WalesOnline reported.
Ratuniyarawa played for the Barbarians until they folded and has since applied for benefits - he's pictured here the day of the assaults (Getty Images for Barbarians)Ratuniyarawa had been named on the bench for the game against Wales at the Principality Stadium on November 4. But on the evening of October 31, and into the early hours of November 1, he carried out the assaults at the nightclub.
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Defence barrister Ruth Smith asked for sentencing to be adjourned for a pre sentence report as Ratuniyarawa is of previous good character and has kept to stringent bail conditions. These include conditions not to enter licensed premises, a curfew to his home at The Orchard, Kislingbury, Northampton, not to leave the UK, and not to contact prosecution witnesses.
Ms Smith said: "He has fixed ties to the UK, he has played rugby here for a significant number of years. His wife and four children reside here and have their own right to remain here. Two of his children were born here. He is the sole breadwinner for his family.
"He was employed by London Irish which folded in May 2023 and he was present in Cardiff to play a Barbarians game. It was hoped a contract would flow from that but because of these events did not happen, and has had to apply for benefits for his family. That is not in place and he has various appointments to secure financial stability for his family."
The Recorder of Cardiff Tracey Lloyd-Clarke agreed to adjourn the hearing for a pre sentence report, with the defendant to be sentenced on January 9. She remanded Ratuniyarawa on bail, with an added condition to report at Northampton police station on a daily basis. The judge warned the defendant the fact she was granting bail was not an indication of his sentence.