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#ParkingTicket: French rugby team 'enjoying Croydon' despite penalty #ParkingTicket: French rugby team 'enjoying Croydon' despite penalty
(35 minutes later)
There have already been murmurs that they are unhappy with their World Cup base. And now the team coach carrying the French rugby union squad has caught the attention of a traffic warden during their stay in Croydon, south London.There have already been murmurs that they are unhappy with their World Cup base. And now the team coach carrying the French rugby union squad has caught the attention of a traffic warden during their stay in Croydon, south London.
Dan Hicks posted a picture on Twitter of the parking attendant taking details of the vehicle, which was parked at a bus stop, along with the words: “Welcome to Croydon, Team France!! #ParkingTicket”.Dan Hicks posted a picture on Twitter of the parking attendant taking details of the vehicle, which was parked at a bus stop, along with the words: “Welcome to Croydon, Team France!! #ParkingTicket”.
Les Bleus are staying at Croydon’s four-star Selsdon Park hotel during the five-week tournament, which gets under way on Friday, amid reports some of the players are less than impressed with their surroundings.Les Bleus are staying at Croydon’s four-star Selsdon Park hotel during the five-week tournament, which gets under way on Friday, amid reports some of the players are less than impressed with their surroundings.
Hicks, who plays with London rock band Mordecai, said: “I rode past on my motorbike and saw the coach had the French team name and initials on the side and saw the ticket inspector. The opportunity was too good to miss so I turned around to get the photo.”Hicks, who plays with London rock band Mordecai, said: “I rode past on my motorbike and saw the coach had the French team name and initials on the side and saw the ticket inspector. The opportunity was too good to miss so I turned around to get the photo.”
A spokesman for the French national side said he was not aware of the incident, which reportedly took place outside the Apatura restaurant on Wednesday evening. But he confirmed the players had been out for dinner in the area at the time.A spokesman for the French national side said he was not aware of the incident, which reportedly took place outside the Apatura restaurant on Wednesday evening. But he confirmed the players had been out for dinner in the area at the time.
It comes after French prop Uini Atonio complained that a rowdy wedding reception at the team’s hotel had kept him up all night on Saturday, while French newspaper MetroNews described Croydon as “sad” and claimed it had not made the headlines since the 2011 riots. It comes after French prop Uini Atonio complained that a rowdy wedding reception at the team’s hotel had kept him up all night on Saturday, while French newspaper MetroNews described Croydon as sad and claimed it had not made the headlines since the 2011 riots.
However, Lionel Rossigneux, spokesman for the French squad, insisted the players were having a good time in London. “Everything is fine. We are enjoying the place,” he said. “The hotel is great. All the staff are very dedicated to the team. It’s quiet which is exactly what we need for the team.”However, Lionel Rossigneux, spokesman for the French squad, insisted the players were having a good time in London. “Everything is fine. We are enjoying the place,” he said. “The hotel is great. All the staff are very dedicated to the team. It’s quiet which is exactly what we need for the team.”
A Croydon council spokesman said: “Despite appearances, this is not Croydon’s revenge for disparaging remarks allegedly made about the town by a French rugby journalist earlier this week. The fact of the matter is that the coach was parked illegally in a bus stop on a busy main road.”A Croydon council spokesman said: “Despite appearances, this is not Croydon’s revenge for disparaging remarks allegedly made about the town by a French rugby journalist earlier this week. The fact of the matter is that the coach was parked illegally in a bus stop on a busy main road.”