THIRTEEN Barbarians Covidiots have been charged by the RFU with breaking bubble protocols and giving false statements.

Ex-England captain Chris Robshaw and a dirty dozen of players are accused of leaving their hotel at least twice last week to go out in London – with video emerging of them in a pub playing drinking games.

Now the BaaBaas bad boys will have to formally explain what they were doing after signing up to strict rules and then forcing last Sunday's game against the Red Rose at Twickenham to be cancelled – costing Twickenham more than £1million.

The RFU said: "The RFU is bringing charges against 13 Barbarian FC players who will appear before an online Independent Disciplinary Panel chaired by Philip Evans QC charged with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Union or the Game, contrary to RFU Rule 5.12.

"The players will face a range of charges including: 

• Individual breaches of the protocols (e.g. leaving the hotel without permission or without informing organisers of their whereabouts)

• Providing false statements during an investigation.

"The RFU recognises the pressure public scrutiny is placing on the players and therefore it will publish players’ names, full judgements and sanctions after the hearings have concluded.

"There is no sanction table applicable to charges brought under Rule 5.12 therefore the Independent Panel can issue a range of sanctions at their discretion including fines and/or match bans and/or any other suitable sanction."

SunSport understands that BaaBaas players and their agents told the tourists that they weren’t involved – but were left red-faced on Saturday morning when a video exposed them.

Eddie Jones binned the warm-up match ahead of this Saturday's Six Nations title-shot in Italy next weekend due to fears the Baa-Baas could infect his England squad.

And Robshaw, 34, was among those to apologise.

He said: "I want to express my deepest apologies for breaching the Barbarians' Covid-19 restrictions by leaving the hotel post-training with some of my team-mates.

"A huge effort went into conducting this match in a safe fashion and it was irresponsible of me to break the protocols which are put in place to protect players, staff and the public.

"I am sincerely remorseful for my role in undoing all the amazing work that went into trying to make it happen."

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