The international rugby player Api Ratuniyarawa has been jailed for sexual attacks on three women in the VIP area of a bar in Cardiff on three consecutive nights.
Ratuniyarawa, 37, who represented Fiji more than 30 times, was in the Welsh capital preparing to play for the Barbarians invitational club against Wales when the assaults took place.
The women, who were all 19, told Cardiff crown court that the attacks, which happened in an area earmarked for Ratuniyarawa and teammates, had left them deeply traumatised and fearful.
When he was arrested at the Hilton hotel he told police he had never been in trouble before and was only being “fun and friendly”.
But Ratuniyarawa’s barrister told the court that the father of four was now deeply apologetic and ashamed of his crimes, which spelled the end of his career.
The court was told that the first victim tried to push Ratuniyarawa away when he put his hand down her trousers but couldn’t because he was so much bigger. The second knew he was a famous rugby player and much stronger. Ratuniyarawa touched her breast and bottom. The third suffered bleeding and stomach cramps after he sexually assaulted her.
Sentencing Ratuniyarawa to two years and 10 months for two charges of assault by penetration and one charge of sexual assault, Judge Lloyd-Clarke, the recorder of Cardiff, highlighted that he had only stopped attacking the women when others stepped in.
One of the victims tearfully told the court that the attack “came out of the blue”. She said: “It was sudden, shocking and very, very painful. I felt degraded, embarrassed and humiliated. I still do. It was such a painful and personal violation. I feel anxious and upset and can’t sleep at night without seeing my attacker’s face. I am finding it difficult to leave my room because I am so panicky.
“This is the worst possible thing he could have done to me. He is a lot older me. I am scared it will happen to me again. If he can do this to me, anyone else could. I still struggle thinking he could think it was OK to do this. He’s ruined my life and I feel like I am in my own personal hell.”
She said she had lost her hair in clumps and suffered panic attacks. “I feel I’m in flight or fight mode and fighting to keep my head above water. I’ve lost all independence and I am scared. This incident was so violent. This man had his whole career ahead of him. He was such a high-profile person.”
Another of the women addressed Ratuniyarawa directly: ‘“You took away my independence, my self worth and my confidence.” She added: “His face was the last thing I thought of before going to bed and the first thing I saw when I woke up for weeks after the incident.
“I faced so much guilt and so much confusion trying to figure out what was going through his head. Why didn’t the people he was with do anything to stop him, why didn’t the security guard who was standing there not intercept [him]?”
The third said she no longer felt safe around men, especially when they were drunk. “I have had suicidal thoughts and depressive episodes alongside flashbacks,” she said.
Ruth Smith, defending, said drinking heavily was completely out of character for Ratuniyarawa.
She said the attacks came at a time of upheaval in his life. He had played for London Irish, which went into administration last year. He hoped that playing for the Barbarians on 4 November last year would lead to a contract with another club. “Clearly the opposite has happened.” She said his career was over.
Smith said he was the first to leave his village in Fiji to play rugby abroad. He sent money back for them to build community facilities and begin a youth rugby club. She said he lived in a village in Northamptonshire and had four children with one more on the way. Smith added: “He knows his legacy is for ever tarnished.”
Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
