Welsh international scrumhalf Mike Phillips has been sacked by French club Bayonne after being accused of turning up drunk at a training session, a source at the club said.
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Phillips, 31, and capped 77 times by his country, met club officials on Saturday where he was told that he was to be sacked.
He will be receive the official confirmation by letter on Monday, the source said, confirming a report on the Sudouest.fr website.
Phillips joined Bayonne from Ospreys in 2011 and was under contract until June 2014.
He could head back to Wales on Sunday to join up with his national squad ahead of the November internationals, said the source.
Bayonne were unable to confirm Phillips’ impending departure.
Phillips was sidelined from the Bayonne squad after he was accused, along with New Zealand duo, back row forward Dwayne Haare and flyhalf Stephen Brett, of arriving drunk for a video analysis session on October 11.
Phillips was dropped for Friday’s 24-19 win over Montpellier but Haare was named on the bench while Brett played from the start and enjoyed a key role in his team’s second try.
According to a club source, both Kiwi imports will receive heavy fines.
Phillips had been in trouble with the Bayonne authorities in September 2012 when he was banned for 10 days and fined following another alcohol-fuelled episode.
He played 39 matches in the Top 14.