Lauaki remanded on wilful damage charge

Sione Lauaki's lawyer said the Chiefs rugby star had enrolled in an anger management course. File photo / Sarah Ivey

All Blacks and Chiefs rugby star Sione Lauaki was remanded on bail yesterday by an Auckland judge who told him that the eyes of the "whole country" were now on him.

Lauaki, 27, was appearing in Auckland District Court on a charge of wilful damage relating to an incident on New Year's Day when he damaged windows and a television set at Auckland's Greenlane Motor Inn after a disagreement with a woman friend.

Lauaki's lawyer, Richard Earwaker, produced receipts showing Lauaki had paid the ordered reparation and was enrolled in a Hamilton-based anger management course.

Judge Lex de Jong told Lauaki that "the whole country will be waiting and wondering" about his progress, the Waikato Times reported.

He remanded him to reappear in August.

- NZPA