Trio quit Bath

The three players had been called to face a disciplinary hearing after they declined on three separate occasions to take a drugs test, according to Bath. The players resigned immediately before Monday's disciplinary hearing was due to begin.

But solicitor Richard Mallett then issued a statement on behalf of the three players, denying they had refused to take drug tests.

The club had been conducting an internal investigation into allegations linked to drug use and fighting at an end-of-season celebration on May 10.

Bath chief executive Bob Calleja confirmed the departure of Lipman, Crockett and Higgins in a brief statement.

He said: "Michael Lipman, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins had been required to appear at an internal disciplinary hearing to address the failure on three occasions to take a drugs test following allegations surrounding player conduct on Sunday, May 10.

"Immediately before the hearings were due to take place the players resigned from the club with immediate effect. The club regards this as an internal matter and intends to make no further comment."

But Mallett responded on behalf of the players with another statement which read: "It is with tremendous regret that we announce that, as a result of the club's actions, we have no option but to terminate our contracts with Bath Rugby with immediate effect.

"During the course of the last few weeks it has become clear to us that our position within the club has been made untenable. We have made every effort to work with the club to resolve our differences. Sadly, we have been unable to do so.

"It has been suggested in sections of the media that we have refused to provide samples for anti-doping purposes, but this is untrue. Anonymous sources have also made allegations against us to the club. We completely refute these allegations, which are both false and defamatory."