Manu Tuilagi apologises after 'bunny ears' prank on David Cameron
British and Irish Lions centre Manu Tuilagi has apologised for playing a prank on Prime Minister David Cameron.
Last Updated: 17/09/13 2:53pm
Tuilagi gave Cameron 'bunny ears' as a group of the victorious Lions players and management posed for a photo with the Conservative Party leader during a function to celebrate the success over Australia.
Using Twitter to express his remorse for the incident, the England international said: "Apologies for messing around on Lions photo. No offence intended. Great Day at Downing Street. Thanks to Prime Minister for hosting us."
It is not the first time Tuilagi has been the centre of controversy as he was fined £3,000 by the Rugby Football Union after he jumped from a ferry during England's World Cup campaign in New Zealand two years ago.
Tuilagi was cautioned by police on that occasion and disciplined by then England coach Martin Johnson.
Former England hooker Brian Moore criticised the prank, believing the Leicester player's actions showed a lack of maturity.
"My real objection is it wasn't very inventive," Moore told talkSPORT.
'Absolute prat'
"People are saying they are offended. Are they really offended, or is it more a case of Tuilagi being an absolute prat again and taking the attention away from his team-mates?
"He has been a complete and utter prat. He ought to grow up, it's as simple as that, but people saying they are offended, are they really offended?
"The authorities I'm sure will do what they should do and say, 'Manu, everyone thinks you are a two-year old, do you really want that? Now go away and grow up please'."
Leicester team-mate Ben Youngs, a fellow British and Irish Lion, took a more light-hearted view of the incident.
He tweeted: "The man @Manutuilagi just couldn't stop himself."
The scrum-half later removed the tweet and posted a picture of himself posing outside 10 Downing Street.
Gloucester fly-half Freddie Burns tweeted: "Great bottle from Manu Tuilagi!" But he later added: "Was not condoning Manu's actions in my tweet yesterday. Was just my immediate reaction to seeing the picture and was a poor tweet on my part."
