Gloucester coach Johan Ackermann and son Ruan have been implicated in a nightclub fight that left a man ‘beaten up’.

The alleged incident took place in the early hours of Sunday morning, a few hours after Gloucester’s win over Zebre.

Local police released a statement that read: ‘Gloucestershire Constabulary is investigating a report of an incident which happened at the 21 Club in Regent Street, Cheltenham, in the early hours of Sunday morning – 17 December.

‘The allegation is that there was an altercation between two groups of men, during which one of the men sustained facial injuries.

‘The incident was reported just before 1:30am. Police officers arrived shortly afterwards but all those involved had left the scene. Investigating officers will be examining CCTV footage this week and speaking to witnesses. No one has been arrested.’

A Gloucester spokesman said on Monday night: ‘Gloucester Rugby are aware of the allegations. The club cannot make any further comment at this stage.’

In a Facebook post, a friend of the alleged victim’s sister, Christina Wood said: ‘This is a heartbreaking. This lad is my good friends brother, he has autism and was attacked unprovoked!!! This has now left him with a possible bleed on the brain. The scum who did this were 2 “men” who are supposed to be upstanding members of society.. but have now shown they are nothing more than oxygen wasting thugs. They are Ruan ackermann and his father johan ackermann. Police, media, everything possible is being done to get these 2 morona off the thrones they think they sit on, you are NOT above the law. Please share this as far as you can so we can get #justiceforharry !!!!! #autism #attack #unprovoked #ruanackermann #johanackermann #gloucesterrugby’

Woods also posted photos of the injuries sustained by the alleged victim.