Rugby hero bashed me, says ex-wife

Brian Lima.

Samoan rugby hero Brian Lima has been charged after a public assault against his ex-wife at the weekend.

Lemalu Sina Retzlaff has taken out a protection order against her former partner - a former Manu Samoa captain - after an assault that involved a weapon and left her with facial injuries, the Samoan Observer reported.

Ms Retzlaff, who has three children to Lima, told the newspaper she had taken out a protection order against the 41-year-old International Rugby Board Hall of Fame player.

"He will be remanded at large until his case is mentioned in Court on January 13, 2014," the publication quoted police as saying.

"[Lima] has been charged with causing actual bodily harm and being armed with a dangerous weapon. Police have obtained his travel documents."

He had also been ordered not to have contact with Ms Retzlaff.

Ms Retzlaff had spoken out to raise awareness for domestic violence, and a photograph showed her with two black and bloodshot eyes, bruising to her jaw and a stitched wound on her nose.

"I should have gotten a protection order earlier and I learned that the hard way," she said.

"My face is saying you should have gotten a protection order."

"We need to be strong and women need to get a protection order when they leave."

Lima retired from rugby in 2007, and is now a coach for Samoan national and regional teams.