Sevens star faces pub-brawl charges

Declan O'Donnell. Photo / Getty Images

Rising rugby sevens star Declan O'Donnell is to face charges over his alleged part in a late-night brawl outside a Hamilton nightclub this year.

The 20-year-old flame-haired tyro has been one of the outstanding finds on this year's international rugby sevens circuit.

But he was allegedly involved in a fracas outside The Outback Inn on January 21.

A virtual unknown before he lit up the Wellington Sevens nearly two weeks after the alleged incident, the 94kg O'Donnell was declined police diversion on a charges of assault with intent to injure and common assault.

The charges related to two complainants at the nightclub. Name suppression for the Paeroa-born Hamiltonian lapsed on Monday, and not being accepted for diversion, means O'Donnell will appear at the Hamilton District Court on May 11.

His court appearance comes 10 days before the London leg of the Sevens World Series, in which on current form it is likely he will play barring injury.

O'Donnell did not return Herald calls yesterday.

John Lawrenson, who owns The Outback Inn, said O'Donnell approached him about a week after the alleged incident to apologise.

He felt the apology was genuine.

"We had a sit down for about 20 minutes, he apologised and I thought he showed genuine remorse. I was happy that the matter was settled there," he said.

The NZ Rugby Union's general manager of professional rugby, Neil Sorensen, said sanctions against O'Donnell would not be decided until the court case was over.

He said the NZRU expected a high standard of behaviour from contracted players.

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

Tietjens could not be reached for comment yesterday but said in a February interview with the Dominion Post that O'Donnell had worked hard on his game getting fitter, stronger and faster as he went through a difficult time.

O'Donnell, who does not have a contract with his Waikato province, saw his rugby stocks rise markedly after a stellar performance at this year's Wellington Sevens, in which he scored 10 tries.