New rugby sevens star loses suppression bid

Declan O'Donnell is accused of assaulting two men in a Hamilton pub brawl. Photo / Christine Cornege

Rugby sevens star Declan O'Donnell cut a forlorn figure in court yesterday.

The 20-year-old O'Donnell appeared at the Hamilton District Court to face charges of assault with intent to injure and common assault.

The charges relate to an incident outside a Hamilton nightclub, The Outback Inn, on January 21.

He entered no plea and has been further remanded to reappear before the court on June 9.

Community magistrate Susan Hovell refused an image suppression request from O'Donnell's lawyer, who said his client was "at his most vulnerable in the dock".

But Ms Hovell said the accused's identity was a matter of public interest.

"There is public interest because of your standing in the sports arena. Unfortunately, when something goes wrong and you allegedly step on the wrong side of the law, there are consequences," the magistrate said.

"For professional sports people there are greater consequences because you are looked upon with awe by young people."

O'Donnell later refused to answer media questions as he was rushed away with a family member, believed to be his mother, after the appearance.

A virtual unknown before he lit up the Wellington sevens two weeks after the alleged incident, O'Donnell was refused police diversion on the charges.

The New Zealand Rugby Union's general manager of professional rugby, Neil Sorensen, said the union expected a high standard of behaviour from contracted players but sanctions against O'Donnell would not be decided until the court case was over.

O'Donnell was 19 when he played his first games for the New Zealand Sevens team in December last year, after coach Gordon Tietjens plucked him from obscurity whilehe was playing in a club tournament inHamilton.

He is likely to play in the next leg of the international rugby sevens series, which starts in London next week.