Rugby star pleads guilty to assault

Declan O'Donnell. Photo / Getty Images

A New Zealand rugby sevens star has pleaded guilty to assaulting a bouncer, but has denied assaulting and hurting another.

Declan O'Donnell, 20, was accused of assault with intent to injure and common assault during a Hamilton pub brawl on January 21.

He appeared in the Hamilton District Court this morning.

Last month community magistrate Hovell refused O'Donnell's request for name suppression, saying his client's identity was a matter of public interest.

A virtual unknown before he lit up the Wellington Sevens nearly two weeks after the alleged incident, the 94kg O'Donnell was previously declined police diversion on the charges.

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.

The NZ Rugby Union's general manager of professional rugby, Neil Sorensen, previously 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.

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.

- NZ Herald staff