'I'm a goose': Phipps fined for hotel incident

Tue, May 1, 2018, 7:56 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Nick Phipps was reportedly kicked out of the Woollahra Hotel last week. Photo: Getty Images

Waratahs and Wallabies halfback Nick Phipps has been fined, after urinating on a bar in a hotel in Sydney's east.

NSW Rugby released a statement on Tuesday night, announcing Phipps would be fined $4000 over the incident, which occurred at the Wotahra Hotel on his bucks night on April 21.

His fine will be donated to the NSW Positive Rugby Foundation, an organisation that supports community rugby.

Phipps will also have his club captaincy temporarily suspended, with a return to the role being 'monitored by the organisation', but will be free to play against the Blues on Saturday night, despite the incident.

News broke on Monday night that Phipps had been kicked out of the Woollahra Hotel after urinating on the bar, at the tail end of the festivities, while dressed as a cow.

The Wallabies nine was reportedly apologetic at the time of the incident and rang the hotel owners in the days following to express his remorse to them as well.

Phipps fronted media on Tuesday morning, to take responsibility for his actions and apologise as soon as he could.

"I’m a goose, if I’m going to do the crime, I’ll pay the time," he said.

"It’s always been in my character to stand up and accept the responsibility, I was a bloody idiot.

"It’s one of those things I wanted to front straight away and get the apology out there and make sure everyone knows how sorry I am."

Phipps said he had little memory of the incident, but that it 'lasted just a few seconds' before he was pulled away by friends and kicked out of the hotel.

The 29-year-old ait.d he wouldn't be fighting any punishments given to him.

"There are gong to be some sanctions handed down and I’ll accept them," he said.

"My role at the club is something that’s pretty important and to be honest that’s not the way we should carry ourselves.

"There won’t be any fight from me. It’s something I just wanted to do and get on the front foot and get back to playing footy."

"I’ve spoken to Rugby Australia, they've voiced their displeasure, they’re not very happy," he said.

"It's something that will be shored up today and then we can move on."

Though it appears a relatively minor offence, the timing could not be much worse for the Waratahs, who have just recently weathered a controversy over Israel Folau's social media use and a debate over  religious freedom.

Teammate Will Miller said Phipps had addressed the group, they had accepted his apology and were ready to move on.

The Waratahs take on the Blues on Saturday night at Brookvale Oval, kicking off at 7:45pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO.

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