Rugby player sentenced over assault

A Dunedin District Court judge has told a Highlanders player his assault could have killed the victim.

Sentencing winger Lucky Mulipola yesterday for a one-punch assault on a man in the Octagon on April 5, Judge Paul Kellar said the consequences of just one punch could be "very severe indeed. Sometimes people die from even a single punch."

He sentenced Mulipola to 180 hours' community work and ordered him to pay $5000 emotional harm reparation to the victim. Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Richard Reid said he could not comment on whether Mulipola would face further disciplinary action.