

*UPDATE*

Reports have since emerged that Phillips has been suspended, not yet formally released from his club Bayonne. The club are to release a statement in the next few hours on the matter, according to their Twitter feed. However, also on Twitter, Midi Olympique claim that Phillips will still be fired.

Earlier, reports from Midi Olympique and RugbyRama suggested that Mike Phillips had been released from his contract at Bayonne.

The Wales and British and Irish Lions scrum-half was in hot water last week for arriving at a video-analysis session drunk, following a bender after the team’s loss to Wasps in the Amlin Challenge Cup. According to the reports, Phillips will receive a letter on Saturday morning saying his contract has been terminated with the club. This is not the first time he has been in trouble for drinking with his club, and it was clearly the final straw.

What might follow next for Phillips is unclear, but presumably he will return to Wales if his future in France is over. He is in the squad for the Autumn Internationals, but beyond that he will need to be playing regular club rugby.

Just in time for the proposed temporary central contracts from the WRU, eh?