'It's not good for me, my family', says Blues player accused of assault

Rene Ranger in action for the Blues against the Brumbies at Eden Park on Friday night. Photo / Ross Land

Northland and Blues rugby player Rene Ranger has lost an appeal in the High Court at Whangarei to maintain name suppression while facing two charges of injuring with intent.

Ranger, 23, who has also won international honours with the Junior All Blacks and New Zealand Sevens team, is accused of assaulting a man and leaving him unconscious outside the Mangawhai Tavern last August.

He had been granted interim name suppression, until Judge Keith de Ridder lifted the suppression order in Whangarei District Court on March 12.

However, Ranger's lawyer immediately appealed the judge's decision to the High Court, which rejected the appeal last Thursday but ordered that the suppression order be lifted at noon today.

Ranger is expected to go on trial later this year or early next year.

He told reporters after Blues training today that he was disappointed he was "involved in something and it's got to this stage. It's not good for me, my family and it's not fair on the team.

"It's now in the court's hands. I've just got to get on and do my job and do what's best for this team."

Blues coach Pat Lam said the franchise was well aware how the case had been progressing.

"Obviously Rene's an employee of the Blues franchise and we've been kept right across what's been happening and while it didn't happen in our season, it happened last year, we've been well informed on what's been going on and we'll let the court take its process," he said.

"We are totally behind Rene and supportive."

Ranger had been "focussing in on his job, and doing what's best for him and what's best for the team. So that's where we're at", Lam said.

- NZPA