Ospreys Rugby investigate Andrew Bishop Cardiff assault

Andrew Bishop first played for Wales against South Africa in 2008

Ospreys Rugby are carrying out an investigation after Wales centre Andrew Bishop was convicted of assault.

A man was punched in the face and needed eight stitches in what Cardiff magistrates heard was an "unprovoked attack".

Bishop, 27, from Treorchy, Rhondda, admitted assault and was told to pay fines and compensation of over £1,000.

The Swansea-based region say a "thorough investigation" will be held in line with disciplinary procedures.

Bishop however was named in the Ospreys' line-up to face Munster on Saturday.

'Unprovoked'

Cardiff magistrates heard on Thursday how Bishop was "intoxicated" after drinking five or six pints of beer, plus vodka and an energy drink on a Sunday night outing in August in the city's nightclub quarter with his Ospreys team-mates.

Prosecutor Katie Pidgeon said: "The defendant was sat on the ground in a doorway with his head down".

She said victim Allan Hornsey saw Bishop and was abused by him and after saying "are you all right," he was slapped in the face with the back of the hand.

The court heard that a friend of Mr Hornsey's intervened before Bishop punched him again in the face cutting his upper lip.

"He was throwing punches with his clenched fists with both hands," Miss Pidgeon told the court.

She said Mr Hornsey needed eight stitches in his lip and had his shirt ripped in the "unprovoked attack" at around 02:50 BST.

At first Bishop denied the assault but later admitted it when shown the scene captured by CCTV cameras.

His lawyer Stuart Hutton said his client "enormously regretted" the incident which was completely out of character.

'Regarded as a gentleman'

He said that Bishop, capped 16 times by Wales, was "mild, polite and regarded as a gentleman who breaks up arguments on the rugby pitch".

Mr Hutton said: "He has never been disciplined or shown any card apart from a yellow for being offside."

Fellow team mate and Welsh international Ryan Jones said in a written testimony that Bishop walked away from flare-ups and tried to calm things down.

Bishop admitted common assault and was ordered to pay £1,065 including a £465 fine and £500 compensation to Mr Hornsey.

Magistrate Frank Medina told him: "It saddens the court that someone with your reputation and clean record appears before the court."

Bishop later said: "What happened does not represent the person I am.

"I have endeavoured to conduct my life with integrity and stand by values which are important."

A statement posted on the Ospreys website on Friday said: "Following Andrew Bishop's appearance at Cardiff Magistrates Court on a charge of common assault yesterday and the completion of the legal process the Ospreys can confirm that, in line with our internal disciplinary procedures, we will be undertaking a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding events on the morning of 20 August.

"There will be no further comment on this matter from Ospreys Rugby at this time."