Stade Toulousain’s former All Black scrum-half Byron Kelleher escaped a prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges of affray and driving under the influence of alcohol.

The 32-year-old was instead fined €3,500 and given a two month suspended sentence after appearing in court in Toulouse on Wednesday.

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The former Top 14 Player of the Year was not banned from driving, however, as he did not provide a specimen at the time of the incident. The case arose after Kelleher – who admitted to being drunk – hit another vehicle and subsequently got into a fight with its driver after attempting to flee the scene. He injured his shoulder in the brawl and was forced to miss several matches for 17-time French champions Stade Toulousain.

Kelleher, who has 57 New Zealand caps, released a statement after his sentencing via AFP.

“The punishment delivered appears to me to be justified and corresponds to the seriousness with which I took this incident,” he said.

“I would like to reiterate my sincere apologies to those who would have found my behaviour shocking and now wish to draw a close to the matter, turn the page and go back to my career.”

He had also publicly apologized for the drink-fuelled incident – which also involved two friends of his – in a previous interview. “When you make a mistake you have to own up to it, to have the courage to square up to it and say sorry,” he said at the time.

“Our cars collided. It should never have escalated like it did. I got stupidly angry, due for sure to drink. I was mixing with the wrong types.”

Toulouse prosecutor Michel Valet denied Kelleher had been given preferential treatment because he is a star rugby player. “This case was dealt with in the most neutral manner possible,” he added.

Elsewhere, England World Cup winner Ben Cohen has admitted to leaving Brive “in their hour of need”.

Cohen left Brive in the summer for a return back to the Guinness Premiership with Sale Sharks. Earlier this month he told FRC that he had “massively irresponsible” to move to France in the first place, particularly yin view of having young twin daughters at the time.

Now, in an interview with ESPNScrum.com, he has elaborated further on his French nightmare. “It wasn’t for me really,” he reflected of his time in Brive. “I had a fantastic time in some respects, not to contradict myself, I did things I’d never get to do otherwise, but I just wanted to get back home.”

England’s second-highest try-scorer (with 31) went on to say that he wouldn’t recommend a move to Top 14, although he admitted his views were coloured by the pressure his switch put on his family. “If you’re young, free and single, you’re going to a city, I imagine it would be a fantastic opportunity,” he added.

But the former Northampton Saints player also admitted: “I walked out on them in their hour of need, for reasons that won’t come out as I don’t want to slag off a club I love.”

He went on to say he believed the Premiership was more physical than Top 14 and said also had greater playing depth.

“I think it’s a better standard of rugby. I’m saying that off the back of Stade coming over here and winning and English clubs losing to French, it’s not on the pitch but off the pitch where French rugby really lacks. Individual players are very talented, probably more talented than in England, but they just aren’t very professional.

“Brive went from 0-100 miles per hour very quickly; it was good to bring them in to the modern times but some of the things they’re doing are ancient. They don’t give themselves the chance really. You felt frustrated over there,” he added.