Vinaya Habosi, a Fiji winger for Racing 92, has been mandated to attend a domestic violence course following his arrest. The incident occurred on Sunday, after which he was released by police the next day. Authorities were called to his residence due to a dispute between Habosi and his wife, who were in the company of their baby at the time.
Witnesses reported that Habosi, 24, was involved in physical altercations, which his wife corroborated when speaking to the police. At the time of the incident, Habosi reportedly exhibited signs of intoxication.
The public prosecutor’s office in Nanterre stated that Habosi must participate in a program aimed at raising awareness regarding the prevention of domestic violence and sexism, as an alternative to formal legal action. They noted that should he fail to comply with this order, further legal proceedings could occur.
Last Saturday, Habosi played a brief role in Racing’s 33-20 victory over Clermont in the French Top 14. Racing 92 is set to face Bordeaux-Begles in their next match.
Racing 92 head coach Stuart Lancaster commented on the situation, indicating that the club is still investigating and emphasized the team’s focus on the upcoming game. This is not the first controversy for Habosi; he was previously dismissed from Fijian Drua earlier this year due to a significant violation of the club’s conduct rules, following a complaint involving assault. He later joined Racing 92 and participated in five matches for Fiji during last year’s Rugby World Cup, including a start against England in the quarter-finals.