England players in trouble

The England rugby team’s problems appear to have gone from bad to worse with Ben Te’o and Billy Vunipola reportedly in trouble for breaking protocols just hours after the Six Nations meltdown against Scotland.

England blew a 31-0 lead and needed a late try to rebound for a 38-all draw with the Scots in a Twickenham performance that has left coach Eddie Jones questioning his side’s mental ability to handle pressure.

Disciplinarian Jones will have been furious to see New Zealand-born Te’o and Vunipola step out of line immediately after the sloppy England effort that drew plenty of criticism.

The Guardian reports the pair ‘‘found themselves in hot water after arriving late back at the England team hotel following an alcohol-fuelled night out, hours after their side’s second-half capitulation to Scotland’’.

They apparently breached team protocol by arriving late to the Chiswick hotel.

‘‘Te’o and Vunipola were out until the early hours of Sunday morning without the rest of the squad,’’ The Guardian report stated. Rugbypass.com also reported the story and alleged the pair’s behaviour on return upset other hotel patrons though this has been denied by England rugby bosses.

They said the matter had been handled internally and it is understood Te’o and Vunipola apologised to their team-mates.

England do not operate curfews but insist on sensible decisions and Jones has come down hard on players who have transgressed.

England finished second on the Six Nations table behind Wales who completed a grand slam by beating defending champions Ireland in Cardiff last weekend.