Ex-All Black to lift name suppression

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A former All Black is to ask the courts to lift a longstanding suppression order banning anyone from disclosing his conviction for fraud.

The rugby star, who retains a big public profile, was convicted some years ago of ripping off $152.50 of taxi chits from his public service employer.

Until now he has refused to waive the permanent name suppression and let the media report his conviction.

But the ex-All Black claims he was the victim of a "vendetta" and he now wants to tell all in his own words.

Law professor Bill Hodge has accused the man of a "hypocritical" abuse of suppression laws.

When the man pleaded guilty in the Wellington District Court, his defence lawyer described him as being at "the lowest point in his life", according to The Independent.

The judge fined him $500, plus costs, and granted him name suppression so he would not suffer further humiliation.

This week, the former All Black said he was "not yet ready" to reveal his identity in the newspaper - but planned to do so when his auto- biography was published.

"I am writing a book and I will probably tell the full story in that."

Bill Hodge said: "It seems rather hypocritical for this man, who is a public figure, to use name suppression when it suits him and then to lift it to suit his publishing purposes to make money."