Trials of a bag lady

The woman who sold the handbag used by former All Black captain Tana Umaga to thump a Hurricanes teammate has been slapped in a bar herself.

Despite getting a new job, car, and handbag, Nichole Davies revealed life in Christchurch hadn't been entirely trouble-free since she sold what was dubbed New Zealand's most expensive - and famous - handbag.

Recently, a man smacked her in a pub, "just for me being who I am", she said.

"It was a big drunk slap across the face. Then he slapped me on the back and ran away."

Despite the assault, Davies says the amateur paparazzi have at least stopped bothering her.

For a while, 40 "randoms" a day were accosting her, taking mobile phone photos and striking up conversations about the country's most expensive handbag.

There is also one joke the 22-year-old is very tired of.

Occasionally, someone will grab her bag in town, wave it around and guffaw, "I'm going to belt you with it!"

Davies is not keen on talking about how she spent the $22,750 she received by selling the bag on TradeMe, but said she did invest in a new car, a $6000 white Toyota Levin.