Barbarians player sentenced to 2 years 10 months in jail for sexual assaults in Cardiff
Fijian International Api Ratuniyarawa was due to play for Barbarians in their game against Wales when the assaults took place
Last updated 9th Jan 2024
International rugby player Api Ratuniyarawa, 37, has been sentenced to 2 years and 10 months behind bars for a series of sexual assaults in Cardiff in November 2023.
A restraining order from one of the victims against Ratuniyarawa for three years has also been granted.
The Fijian international was due to appear for the Barbarians in their match against Wales at the Principality Stadium on the 4th of November.
Ratuniyarawa was charged just hours before the match started. He pleaded guilty to three charges, including sexual assault and assault by penetration at Cardiff Crown Court
The offences were against three women and took place between the 31st of October and the 2nd of November.
The defendant was arrested at around 9:25pm on the 2nd of November at the Hilton Hotel where he was staying.
The former London Irish and Northampton Saints player also denied two further charges of sexual assault against one of the three victims.
The pleas were accepted by the Crown Prosecution, and allowed sentencing to go ahead.
One of his victims read out their victim statement in court.
They said, "My attack came out of the blue. It was shocking. I felt degraded, embarrassed and humiliated. I am not the same person I was before the attack". The victims cried in court as they described the days after the attack.
Another victim said to have their statement read out in court said "You took away my independence, my self-worth and my confidence. I face so much guilt and confusion".
The final victim to have their statement read out in court described how they had left their job as a result of the assault, and how their mental health has been impacted.
The Defence barrister Ruth Smith told the court that it was clear that the level of alcohol the defendant had consumed was a significant factor for how Ratuniyarawa acted.
The court heard how the defendant admits that he is "entirely" responsible for what happened and that the guilt lies entirely with him.
Finally, the defence said how Ratuniyarawa feels like he hasn't just let himself down, but his county of Fiji down too.
He has been sentenced to 2 years and 10 months in prison, and has been placed on the sexual offenders register.