Barbarians players will not face any investigation from Metropolitan Police for breaching Covid-19 regulations

Chris Robshaw of Barbarians looks on during a Barbarians Training session at Latymer Upper School Playing Fields on October 21, 2020 in London, England.  - GETTY IMAGES
Chris Robshaw of Barbarians looks on during a Barbarians Training session at Latymer Upper School Playing Fields on October 21, 2020 in London, England. - GETTY IMAGES

The Barbarians players captured on video out drinking in a group of more than 10 people last week will not face any investigation from the Metropolitan Police, it was confirmed on Tuesday.

The group were pictured drinking in the Running Horse pub in Mayfair a short distance from the Barbarians' team bubble at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel, without any social distancing and in a group larger than six people, one of two bubble breaches last week which resulted in the fixture between England and the Barbarians on Sunday being cancelled at significant cost to the Rugby Football Union.

“The Met will not investigate COVID breaches retrospectively unless they are the most dangerous and flagrant breaches of the regulations. The Met is not investigating this incident," read a statement.

An RFU investigation into the Covid-19 bubble breaches is ongoing, which may potentially lead to the players involved facing possible sanctions.

Eddie Jones, the England head coach, defended former England captain Chris Robshaw on Monday following his involvement in the bubble breaches.

"I'm sure if Chris was involved, he'll be sorry for his actions. Chris is a good young man. He's served his country well; let's make sure we don't take it out on him too badly."

Jones also did not express any frustration publicly with the Barbarians players, adding that as soon as the cancellation had been confirmed England began working on an internal solution. France, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Italy and Georgia were all in action last weekend.

"If you're with the team, you've just got to work out what to do with that team if you had a game cancelled, then you're working out how to get the match fitness in your players to be ready for Italy and that's what we did," Jones added.

"I'm really pleased with how my staff and players responded, we had a really great session on Saturday morning, an unbelievably good session."