Rugby star Joe Westerman yesterday embroiled in a sex scandal after a graphic Twitter video went viral which appeared to show the under-fire player performing an act on a woman in a public alleyway.
The married father-of-three player is said to be the man in the clip which has sparked a probe by his club, Castleford Tigers.
The footage was shot at the weekend, days before the start of the Super League season.
The player, who has won two England caps during a 13-year career in the top flight, has his tackle exposed in the footage, in which a passer-by is heard asking: ‘Can I have a go?’
After the graphic seven-second clip went viral, Castleford fined Westerman and ordered him to carry out community service to educate young people on the effects of alcohol, according to The Sun.
Meanwhile, his wife, Lauren, 33, has booted him out of the family home in the West Yorkshire town.
Yesterday, his wife Lauren insisted on Twitter: ‘Can I make this VERY clear that this is NOT me!!!!!! We have three children one of whom is almost 15 and she doesn’t need to see things like this all over social media!’
Teacher Lauren, who married Westerman in 2014, told The Sun she was sent the clip before it appeared online.
In a statement last night Westerman issued an apology to family, friends, the club and to rugby league. He added: ‘I have realised that I need to work on my decision-making around alcohol.’
A statement from the club read: ‘Castleford Tigers are aware of a video involving a player that circulated on social media.
‘This issue is currently being dealt with internally and the club will make no further comment at this time.’
Since the graphic video appeared online yesterday, media users have quick to share memes about the affair.
Westerman’s Wikipedia page was altered to include the jibe: ‘He is known to frequent the alleyway next to Greggs Bakery in Pontefract town centre.’
Other Twitter users broke out in mirth over the Tigers’ star’s apparent fall from grace.
One person said: ‘No matter how bad your Monday is at least you’re not Joe Westerman rocking up at training today.’
A second added: ‘By far the worst thing to come from the Joe Westerman situation is my own mother sending me a meme about it.
The interest in the shocking clip has even been noted as far away as Australia, The Sun reports.
