Rugby: Assault charge for Blues player

Rene Ranger is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow. Photo / Getty Images

Blues rookie Rene Ranger has been charged with assault over an early-morning incident in Matakana and is to appear in court tomorrow - the same day he has been named to play the Hurricanes in Wellington.

Sergeant Bede Haughey of Warkworth said yesterday that a 22-year-old Northland man had been charged with assault after an incident outside the Matakana House bar and bistro and bailed to appear in Warkworth District Court.

Auckland Rugby Union chief executive Andy Dalton said last night that rugby management had discussed the matter with the police on Tuesday, but would not comment on the outcome.

He expected to get written confirmation today.

"Until we get it in writing, these things are never sure," he said.

Ranger has been the subject of a police investigation since an altercation outside Matakana House in the early hours of Sunday, April 19, that left a local man unconscious for several minutes.

The Northland-raised winger, a critical part of the injury-affected Blues line-up, was to have flown to Wellington today.

Ranger was stood down for last week's match against the Reds at Eden Park because of the police investigation, but has been named to start on the wing tomorrow night at Wellington's Westpac Stadium.

Blues management say he will face an NZRU misconduct hearing next week to determine whether further disciplinary action will be taken.

Ranger is the second Blues player to be charged with assault and suspended from a Super 14 match this month.

Taniela Moa, 23, was stood down from the Blues' Easter weekend match against the Lions at Eden Park for throwing a bottle that struck a woman at a rugby club.

NZRU general manager of professional rugby Neil Sorenson said Moa appeared in the Auckland District Court charged with assault and was granted diversion.

The halfback - who is tipped as an All Black hopeful - was also ordered by the NZRU to undertake alcohol counselling and will help community rugby programmes in Auckland.

Moa has reportedly apologised to the woman struck by the bottle.

In a third incident, Auckland provincial representative Simon Munro was one of four taxi passengers accused of attacking a Sikh taxi driver this month.

Dalton told the Herald last week he was frustrated the message was not getting through to some, despite programmes to manage player behaviour.

"I guess these guys are making some bad decisions and paying the consequences," he said.

Blues coach Pat Lam has downplayed the off-field incidents, saying they are a reflection of New Zealand society.

"It's not just our team, it's society in general. There is not one sports team that hasn't had an issue."