TWO Newport Gwent Dragons players had to issue apologies after making jokes on Twitter about hitting women.

Back row pair Tom Brown and Andrew Coombs made the exchanges on Twitter, in which they made light-hearted remarks about domestic abuse.

Mr Brown, 29, who joined the Dragons from the Cardiff Blues last year, said to his teammate on the social network site “isn’t that why your mrs never does public events? #eyeslikeapanda”

making reference to her having two black eyes.

Mr Coombs, 27, replied: “ha ha tell her to ring my misses for help or advice... she goes through that every week!”

Mr Brown also tweeted to his 472 followers: “she talked without being talked to #whatsamantodo haha. defo wasn’t a straight punch #girllovesastory”

The duo made the remarks online on May 21, but they have since been removed.

On May 24, Mr Coombs, who has 428 followers, tweeted: “I’d like to apologise to anyone who was offended by my conversation with @Tom_Browner8 on Monday. Neither of us meant to cause any upset.”

On the same day, Mr Brown tweeted: “I’d also like to apologise to anyone who was offended by my conversation with @Coombs_A on Monday. Neither of us meant to cause any upset.”

The Argus has seen e-mails from Welsh Women’s Aid sent to the Dragons, expressing “serious concern and disappointment regarding an offensive Twitter conversation.”

It adds: “Whilst we presume that the comments exchanged between your two players were made in jest, Welsh Women’s Aid cannot condone joking about an issue as serious as domestic abuse.”

In an e-mail reply to the charity, a spokeswoman for the Dragons said both players apologised unreservedly and said the conversation was not an expression of either player’s views on domestic abuse.

She said it was started by a mutual female friend who had been out socialising with Mr Brown to celebrate his birthday and was in the context of the relationships between the people involved.

A spokeswoman for Newport Gwent Dragons said: "We are aware of comments made by Andrew Coombs and Tom Brown on Twitter at the beginning of last week. These comments have been removed and both players have apologised.

"We have been in contact with the organisation who raised the issue with us and feel that the matter has been dealt with."