Blues player George Moala discharged without conviction

Blues rugby player George Moala in the Auckland District Court today. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Blues rugby player George Moala has been discharged without conviction over a charge stemming from a vicious bar fight.

Moala and his brother Siua had been accused of assaulting two men, Clifford Matoka and Damian Leota, during a fight in December 2012.

The brawl, which erupted in a small bar on Auckland's Karangahape Rd and spilled out onto the street, left one man in hospital and several people arrested.

In January this year, a jury found Moala guilty of assaulting Mr Matoka with intent to injure him.

However, the jury also found him not guilty on two other charges of assaulting Mr Leota with intent to injure him and of common assault on Mr Matoka.

They found his brother not guilty on all three of the same charges.

Blues head coach Sir John Kirwan was in court to support Moala at his sentencing in the Auckland District Court today.

Moala was given a discharge without conviction and ordered to pay $2500 in emotional harm reparation.

After his trial in January, the Blues said Moala was free to train, play and travel with the team until his sentencing.

No conviction was entered at the time.

Blues chief executive Michael Redman said in January that they had consulted with New Zealand Rugby, the Rugby Players' Association, Moala's lawyer and the Blues board.

They had decided "the appropriate thing to do is to have George return to the team".

Questioned about the public reaction, Mr Redman said: "First and foremost, the public would expect us to be even-handed with this, to be a good employer, to take the matter seriously, and obviously we have.

"We don't have any tolerance for any offending, but at the same time we have to follow due process."

During the trial, George Moala's girlfriend of five years, Vava Fosita, said she was hit by one of the complainants, which led to her partner trying to "protect her".

Ms Fosita said the man threw a punch which clipped her lip, before her boyfriend stepped in and punched him back.