Police investigate Powell attack

Rugby:The Metropolitan Police's violent crime unit are investigating an incident in a west London pub which left Wales international Andy Powell with a head injury.

Powell and England prop Tim Payne have both been suspended “with immediate effect” by their club side Wasps, pending an internal investigation.

The two Wasps players were drinking in the Walkabout pub in Shepherds Bush on Monday night when the altercation took place with a group of men.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Officers were called at 22.30 to reports of an altercation at the Walkabout Public House on Shepherds Bush Green, W12.

“An incident is being investigated by officers from the violent crime unit at Hammersmith and Fulham police. No one has yet been arrested and our enquiries are ongoing.”

Powell becomes the second Wales Test player to be suspended by his club in 24 hours.

Toulon yesterday imposed a week-long ban on Gavin Henson, amid reports he had been fighting with team-mates.

Medical student Hal Munton (20) said that he did not see how the incident involving Powell began but that he provided his t-shirt to compress a cut on Powell’s head after witnessing the incident.

Mr Munton posted a picture of a man he says is Powell on Twitter, lying face down on the floor being tended to by police.

“They battered him. It was four or five against one. There were chairs and glass and fists,” said Mr Munton, who was in the pub having been to the QPR-Derby game.

“Then they scarpered. It was crazy. I haven’t seen a fight like it. Once he was on the floor he didn’t have a hope in hell. He had a big cut on the top of his head. When he was on the ground they were kicking him. One of them threw a pint glass down at him before they left.”

Mr Munton said the police gave him back his T-shirt, which he threw away because it was covered in blood.

Powell is no stranger to controversy. He joined Wasps from Cardiff Blues in July last year after the Magners League side agreed to release him early from his contract.

The 29-year-old penned a year-long deal with Wasps, and he forced his way back into Wales contention during this season’s autumn internationals before starting the Six Nations opener against England in February before being injured.

He was kicked out of Wales’ Six Nations squad by coach Warren Gatland last year after being arrested for taking and driving away a golf buggy following a dramatic victory over Scotland.

Powell was arrested near a motorway junction close to Wales’ training base in the Vale of Glamorgan.

He subsequently pleaded guilty at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court to driving a mechanically-propelled vehicle while being unfit through drink. He received a 15-month driving ban and was also fined.