Rugby star on assault charges

Charged rugby star Kurtis Haiu with wife Frieda and Aaliyah, one of their two daughters. Photo / Supplied

Cancer-stricken Super 15 star Kurtis Haiu is facing serious assault charges after an incident south of Auckland.

The 26-year-old Blues lock will appear in the Pukekohe District Court next Wednesday on three charges - assault on a female, assault with intent to use a weapon, and common assault.

News of the charges comes 19 days after he told his teammates he had bone cancer and would be taking indefinite leave from rugby.

The Weekend Herald has learned Haiu was arrested and taken into police custody after an incident in Pukekohe.

Counties Manukau police confirmed they attended an incident involving Haiu, but could not give details last night.

At his Mangere home last night, Haiu, who has played 75 games for Auckland and 53 games for the Blues, refused to comment.

He referred all questions to his manager, Bruce Sharrock.

Sharrock confirmed there had been an incident but said it was too "fresh" to comment on or go into the details.

"We're still gathering information. It would be inappropriate for us to make any further comment until we do," he said.

Sharrock said the charges were not domestic and he "categorically confirmed" Haiu's wife, Frieda, was not involved in any way.

The pair married in January and have two young daughters.

Sharrock would not be drawn on how Haiu was coping with facing criminal charges so soon after his shock diagnosis.

"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that he's not overjoyed with it. It is something we've got to handle."

The Blues' camp appeared to be in the dark about the charges last night.

Coach Pat Lam seemed surprised and refused to comment.

He referred the Weekend Herald to Blues head of communications Jo Coleman, who did not answer repeated phone calls.

Captain Keven Mealamu was surprised to hear about the allegations.

"It's the first time I've heard about it," he said. The news was a shock - "I wouldn't expect it from Kurty."

Mealamu said the charges would be the last thing his teammate needed at the moment.

Haiu, from Whangarei, represented New Zealand at secondary schools, under-19 and under-21 level before beginning his professional rugby career.

He played his first game for Auckland in 2005 against the touring British and Irish Lions, and took the field for the Blues for the first time the year after.

Last month, it was revealed that Haiu had felt intermittent pain around his rib for months but attributed it to the contact nature of rugby.

When the pain worsened and became more frequent, he had specialist blood testing and x-rays, resulting in a tumour being discovered on his rib.

After the news was made public, the Blues' team doctor, Stephen Kara, explained that Haiu had a primary tumour and would have to undergo a series of further tests to determine what type it was.

"Until this time, prognosis is uncertain," he said.

"It is treatable. The first instance will be removing the cancer and part of the rib and then any additional therapy - that's dictated by what the results of the testing show."

On Easter Monday, Haiu told at an emotional team meeting that he would be taking indefinite leave from rugby.

Dr Kara said the diagnosis was "devastating and tragic" for Haiu and his family.

- Additional reporting: Nicholas Jones