Rugby: Super 14 player on assault charges cannot be named

The player's name remains suppressed until an appeal is heard. Photo / Kenny Rodger

A professional rugby player facing two assault charges cannot be named, despite a judge lifting a suppression order.

The player allegedly assaulted a man and left him unconscious in a Northland pub car park last October.

He has been granted interim name suppression on the charges, but that suppression was lifted by Judge Keith de Ridder in Whangarei District Court today.

However, the player's lawyer immediately appealed the judge's decision to the High Court, meaning his name remains suppressed until the appeal is heard.

A date has yet to be set to hear the appeal.

The October incident outside the Mangawhai Tavern was one of several resulting in senior representative rugby players being prosecuted in the past year, facing charges of off-field violence.

All Blacks and Chiefs forward Sione Lauaki was this week charged with assault over an incident in a Hamilton bar last week and is due to appear in Hamilton District Court on March 23.

In 2006, he was offered police diversion after admitting assaulting a Hamilton security officer. Last year, he underwent an anger management course after appearing in court for damaging an Auckland motel unit.

In December, Taranaki rugby player Paul Perez, 23, was fined $750 for choking and punching his pregnant partner.

In July, Highlanders winger Lucky Mulipola was ordered to pay $5000 reparation to a member of the public he assaulted and complete 180 hours of community service.

In June, two charges of assaulting his partner were dropped against All Blacks flanker Adam Thomson after Joanna Holley told a court she had "overreacted" and that any physical contact during an after-wedding argument had been accidental.

In May, Taranaki rugby representative Shayne Austin and a deaf accomplice were each sentenced to 200 hours community work on two charges of assault with intent to injure.

Austin had admitted repeatedly punching two men, when he took exception to comments made about his friend's disability.

Last March, Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour after abusing and manhandling police in a drunken scuffle. He was ordered to appear for sentencing if called upon in the next six months.

- NZPA