Wales players can expect to face grave consequences if there is any repeat of the behaviour which soured their victory over England. Four players were formally rebuked by the Wales management after admitting what the Welsh Rugby Union termed “varying degrees of regrettable conduct” while out celebrating in a Cardiff bar four days ago.

The episode came barely 24 hours after Wales remained on course for a second successive Six Nations Grand Slam by defeating Millennium Stadium visitors England 23-15.

Of the players involved - Gavin Henson, Andy Powell, Jonathan Thomas and Rhys Thomas - only Cardiff Blues number eight Powell featured in last Saturday’s game.

Henson though, who has been recovering from a calf muscle injury, could feature against France in Paris next Friday night.

Wales team manager Alan Phillips has revealed the players concerned stood up and apologised to their squad colleagues during a meeting yesterday. But Phillips, who addressed the issue alongside Wales head coach Warren Gatland, admitted the whole matter had “made life difficult.”

Phillips said: “Last Sunday wasn’t part of going out, really. We had managed things well on Saturday night as a team. We didn’t stop anyone having a few beers in a controlled environment to celebrate the win, because there were two weeks to the next game.

“There was no need for anyone to be out on Sunday. We were disappointed, to say the least. We should have turned in on Wednesday, really bouncing and happy after a very good win, but this has just made life difficult for two or three days.

“We don’t expect to see a repeat of it. The boys are intelligent enough to know that if there is a repeat of this, we won’t be so charitable.”