Rugby: Tameifuna on driving charges

Ben Tameifuna at training for Hawkes Bay. Photo / Paul Taylor

Chiefs' Super Rugby winning prop and All Blacks' training squad member Ben Tameifuna has appeared in court on two charges of driving while disqualified.

He appeared in Hastings District Court today, where he entered no plea and was remanded at large until November 13.

The Hawkes Bay-based 21-year-old was selected in June to be part of the All Blacks' 30-man training squad during the Ireland test series.

He was a key component of this year's Chiefs' Super Rugby winning squad and he has also represented New Zealand at under-20 level.

Neil Sorensen, NZRU General Manager Professional Rugby said it was not appropriate to comment on a case that is before the courts.

"If there are issues relating to misconduct, and we are not making any assumptions, then these would be addressed as normal, at the conclusion of any court case,'' he said.

Earlier this month, Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union chief executive officer Mike Bishop said Tameifuna had been turning up to training with the squad but hadn't been doing enough to warrant selection.

"He certainly hasn't helped himself,'' Bishop said after some Bay fans started asking questions about why the prop suddenly fell out of favour with coach Craig Philpott during the ITM Cup Premiership campaign.