Rugby: Southland star T-Pole sentenced for assault

A Southland Stag and Highlanders Super 12 player who punched and kicked a man unconscious was sentenced to 240 hours community work when he appeared in the Invercargill District Court yesterday.

Hale T-Pole, 24, had earlier admitted jointly assaulting with intent to injure the man and another who tried to come to his aid at Invercargill's Lone Star bar on November 9.

Judge Peter Butler said he accepted T-Pole was trying to help at the start of the incident but his continued violence was "reprehensible".

Highlanders chief executive Russell Gray later said the New Zealand Rugby Union would meet him next week to decide on what disciplinary action T-Pole would face.