• Tuilagi sorry for conduct during Lions' visit to Downing Street • 'Apologies for messing around … No offence intended'

This article is more than 7 years old

This article is more than 7 years old

The England centre Manu Tuilagi has apologised for playing a prank on the prime minister, David Cameron, during the British and Irish Lions' visit to Downing Street on Monday afternoon.

Tuilagi gave Cameron 'bunny ears' while standing behind and to the left of the Conservative Party leader as a group of players and management posed for a photo at the function to honour the Lions' 2-1 series victory over Australia.

Using Twitter to express his remorse for the incident, the Leicester Tigers centre wrote: "Apologies for messing around on Lions photo. No offence intended. Great Day at Downing Street. Thanks to Prime Minister for hosting us."

Manu Tuilagi does 'bunny ears' behind David Cameron during photo op - video Photograph: Pool/Reuters

It is not the first time Tuilagi has been the centre of controversy. He was fined £3,000 by the Rugby Football Union after he jumped from a ferry following England's elimination from the World Cup in New Zealand two years ago.

Tuilagi was cautioned by police on that occasion and disciplined by then England coach, Martin Johnson.

Following his latest prank, Tuilagi's team-mates reacted on social networking site Twitter.

Ben Youngs, a fellow British and Irish Lion, England and Tigers player, tweeted: "The manManutuilagi just couldn't stop himself."

The scrum-half later removed the tweet and posted a picture of himself posing outside 10 Downing Street.

The Gloucester fly-half Freddie Burns tweeted: "Great bottle from Manu Tuilagi! Haha. #chief".