SYDNEY- New Zealand-born Cronulla forward Jason Williams faces a jail term and has had his contract with the Australian National Rugby League club terminated in the aftermath of a bitter feud with a former teammate.
Williams, 23, has been charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm and assault after the alleged
beating of Jeremy Smith in a Sydney nightclub last week.
Williams, who joined Cronulla from the Canterbury Bulldogs this season, was yesterday denied bail and told by magistrate Jay Carney he faced a 16-month jail term for defying a good behaviour bond.
A bail hearing in the Sutherland Local Court was told Williams had earlier received a suspended jail sentence for assaulting his partner, Tamara Pereira, who was in court supporting him.
Ms Pereira said a bitter feud between Williams and Smith started in 1998 and intensified when Smith allegedly cast doubt on the parentage of the couple's son Blayse.
Williams played for the Marist Richmond club in Auckland before crossing the Tasman.
He is scheduled to reappear in court this month.
- NZPA
