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Victor Radley will face a potential sanction from the NRL who have launched an investigation into his alleged altercation with an Irish player.
The Ireland player at the centre of the World Cup altercation with Victor Radley allegedly tried to attack England coach Shaun Wane before he went after the Sydney Roosters star.
Sources close to the investigation into the incident at the England team hotel confirmed that Leeds and Ireland player James Bentley was left nursing a nasty cut to his face after venting his fury at Wane and then turning on Radley.
It is understood he was angry that he was overlooked for the England side. After giving Wane a serve, Radley then became the subject of his abuse and the Sydney Roosters star allegedly responded with a headbutt.
An NRL spokesman confirmed the integrity unit would investigate.
‘The NRL Integrity Unit is aware of the matter and liaising with Rugby League World Cup officials,” the spokesman said.
Radley has a $5000 fine hanging over his head after he was sanctioned by the NRL for his lewd dressing room antics during his short stint as a NSW squad member. The incident prompted NRL boss Andrew Abdo to meet personally with Radley who has courted trouble on occasion during his young career.
Radley was banned for two matches and fined $20,000 – half of which was suspended – after tackling a party gatecrasher in Byron Bay last summer. That suspended fine had lapsed his recent indiscretion in June.
Bentley was left worse for wear, leaving World Cup officials and the RFL to launch an investigation into the altercation, which took place at England’s former team hotel just outside Manchester on Monday morning (AEDT).
Bentley was believed to be the agitator after being invited back to the England team hotel by a member of the host nation’s squad. It is understood he was urged to leave the premises by England players and officials, who threatened to get the police involved unless he did so.
The World Cup and RFL confirmed that they had begun inquiries into the incident.
“The RLWC is aware of reported incidents and is in conversation with the respective parties to establish the circumstances,” a spokesman said.
“There will be no further comment at this time.”
The RFL also confirmed they were investigating the incident amid suggestions that police were called, a claim that was denied by sources close to the England team and the World Cup.
There were further suggestions that two of England’s other NRL players had been involved in a dust-up. News Corp spoke to one of the players allegedly involved and he vehemently denied anything had happened.
England were eliminated from the World Cup on Saturday night (AEDT) by Samoa, losing their semi-final at Emirates Stadium in London. Some of the players then returned to Manchester, where they were staying at the hotel that England had previously used as their base.
News Corp understands that Samoa raised concerns about the presence of England players at the hotel given they had already been eliminated from the tournament.
