An international rugby player has asked police to drop an investigation into an assault that hospitalised him.

Mike Phillips was left with facial injuries after being attacked outside a nightclub in Cardiff city centre during the early hours of Sunday October 19.

One onlooker said a crowd of people gathered around the injured 6ft 3ins, 16 stone scrum half who appeared knocked out after the incident on Mill Lane.

A spokesman for his regional side, the Ospreys, said at the time he was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure and was discharged later that day.

The spokesman added: "The matter has now been reported to the police and we await the outcome of their investigations.’’ The matter however has now been dropped by police on the instruction of Phillips who has 33 caps for Wales.

A South Wales Police spokeswoman said: "In relation to an assault of a 26-year-old man in the Mill Lane area of Cardiff city centre at around 4.15am on Sunday October 19.

"Due to the reporting person not wishing to proceed, there will be no further police action in relation to this matter.’’ Phillips had minor keyhole surgery only the week before the attack on a knee injury that has sidelined the player since March this year. He is expected to return to action in December.