Sale Sharks back details harrowing back story to his assault arrest

Sale Sharks centre Mark Jennings has taken to Twitter to explain his actions on February 2nd, when he was arrested by the police after a domestic dispute, in an incident which saw Jennings headbutt a male officer and threaten a female PC.

Sale confirmed that the player would be taking a sabbatical for the “foreseeable future” a few days after the incident, with his history of injuries cited as one of the major reasons for the sabbatical. On the sabbatical, Jennings stated that he was thankful to his club for the opportunity and that he would “hopefully return once I am fully fit.”

The 26-year-old, who was born in Namibia, took to Twitter today to offer some explanation for his actions.

https://twitter.com/MarkyJ13/status/1113029987911823360

In his statement, Jennings clarified that he had been drinking throughout the day of the incident, after he had learned of his biological father from his mother.

Jennings admitted to previously having suffered from addictions to both alcohol and painkillers and stated that he had been receiving help from the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA).

On the incident itself, Jennings said he has “no recollection” once the police arrived, but that his “behaviour that day was unforgivable and I apologise to the police and what they had to put up with.”

He went on to thank both Sale and the RPA for having stuck by him and that his “journey to health continues,” before emphasising that “I will get better.”

Jennings, who threatened to rape a female PC during the arrest, has accrued over 70 appearances for Sale, as well as being a member of the England U20 squad in 2013, but has seen his career blighted by injury, something which he attributes his addiction to painkillers on.

According to a report by BBC Sport, Jennings is out of contract with Sale in the summer.

Watch: Conor Murray discusses Tadhg Beirne’s actions during Munster’s win over Edinburgh