Racing Metro deny signing of scrum-half Mike Phillips

French club Racing Metro have released a statement denying they have signed Wales and British and Irish Lions scrum-half Mike Phillips.

French reports claimed the Paris-based club had offered him a short-term contract until the end of the season.

Phillips was sacked by French club Bayonne after being accused of turning up for training drunk.

"The club denies any meeting and signing a contract with the player," read the statement on their website.

"It is obvious that, given the very good relations between the presidents, Mr. Lorenzetti and Mr Afflelou, no transfer between the two clubs could be done without prior discussion."

Phillips joined Bayonne from Ospreys in 2011 and was under contract with the French Top 14 club until June 2014.

He appeared before the Bayonne board to answer allegations he turned up to a video analysis session under the influence of alcohol.

Two fellow players, New Zealand back row Dwayne Haare and fly-half Stephen Brett, also had to answer allegations at that meeting and were fined but not suspended.

Phillips, a 77-times capped scrum-half, said he was "disappointed and frustrated" by the club's decision and he announced he would take legal action against Bayonne in October.

He was suspended by Bayonne last year for off-field misconduct and by Wales in July 2011 after a confrontation with a doorman in Cardiff city centre.

Phillips, 31, would have joined fellow Wales and Lions centre Jamie Roberts and flanker Dan Lydiate at Racing Metro. Both joined the club in the summer of 2013.