Bar owner: Rough if charge laid

Sione Lauaki. Photo / Herald on Sunday

A Hamilton bar owner says it will be rough justice if All Black Sione Lauaki is charged over an incident at his business.

Hamilton police are investigating a complaint about the 28-year-old at the Coyote Street Bar and Restaurant about 2am on Friday.

Owner Craig Walters said only one of his staff noticed some "movement" in the crowd between Lauaki and another man.

Within a "five-second" timeframe, there was "a bit of talk going on" and "there might have been a push, but the doorman didn't see a punch".

A staff member went over to talk to the parties but both replied everything was fine, Walter said.

However, the complainant left the bar and found a policeman who came to the bar and asked to talk to the rugby player, who obliged.

Walters said the other man involved had a 120kg-plus frame like Lauaki so the staff would know if anything major had happened.

Walters said if police and the rugby union wanted video footage he would hand it to them. Lauaki's agent, Bruce Sharrock, said he hoped there would be no charges and all parties could "move on".

He said Lauaki will make a statement when police have completed their inquiry.

Lauaki underwent an anger management course last year after being charged with wilful damage over a New Year's Day incident at an Auckland motel.

In 2006, an assault on a doorman resulted in police diversion.