Ulster rugby star Neil Best has been cautioned by police following an alleged assault on a former clubmate.
Negotiations are understood to be ongoing regarding compensation following the incident.
The 16-stone flanker was involved in an altercation with former Belfast Harlequins clubmate Phil Wilson following a night out in a Belfast bar in February.
The alleged incident occurred after Mr Wilson, his wife and her friend had spent an evening with the rugby star in the Botanic Inn.
It was claimed Best (25) attacked Mr Wilson in front of the two women in the back of a taxi.
It was also said the attack was linked to a spat earlier in the evening which Mr Wilson had tried to break up.
A police spokeswoman confirmed that a man had been cautioned over an alleged assault.
She said: "We do not discuss individual cases, but one man did receive a caution in connection with a common assault on February 12."
A spokesperson for the Ulster Branch of the IRFU said that Best did not want to comment.
Ulster Rugby chief executive Mike Reid, who at the time described the alleged assault as a "regrettable incident", said: "The club dealt with this alleged incident at the time."
He declined to comment further.
Tipped as a future star on the international rugby stage, Best won his 50th Ulster cap against Llanelli in November.
Provincial players like Best earn up to £50,000 a year, including their salary, match fees and win bonuses.
From todays Snooze Letter.
Finally this incident almost at a close ....... did not realise these guys earned that much. Must then again it would only be the successful teams would earn that much. Journalists tend to go for the top line in this sort of case. And it is only a short career.
Take into account it is a full time job with a very early retirement age and the prospect that untold damage will be done to your body, damaged joints etc and it is not a very big wage.
“That made me feel very special and underlined to me that Ulster is more than a team, it is a community and a rugby family" Rory Best
DOCTORS and NURSES ETC DESERVE £1000 NOT PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOUR TO WEAR AN ULSTER SHIRT!!!!!!!
RUGBY IS A LIFESTYLE THESE PLAYERS HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO ENJOY SINCE SCHOOL, THE BENEFITS EVEN AS AMATUERS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SIGNIFICANT. ESPECIALLY IF THEIR FACES FITTED!!!!!!!
BYO There is a lot of truth in what you say but times have moved on a bit. These guys are expected to work eat and sleep rugby. They are expected to play as professionals and act as such so they have to be paid as such. This is their job so they get paid the going rate.
