Departing Melbourne Rebel Amanaki Mafi arrested after Dunedin fight with teammate
STAR Melbourne Rebels flanker Amanaki Mafi has finished his career at the club in disgrace after being arrested in New Zealand following a fight with teammate Lopeti Timani.
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STAR Melbourne Rebels flanker Amanaki Mafi has finished his career at the club in disgrace after being arrested in New Zealand following a fight with teammate Lopeti Timani.
Mafi, a Japanese international and the Australian Super Rugby Player of the Year last season, remains in custody in Dunedin after being charged with “injuring and intent to injure” Timani following the Rebels 43-37 loss to the Highlanders on Saturday.
While the exact details of the alleged altercation remain sketchy, Rugby Australia and the Melbourne Rebels both confirmed that the pair had been involved in an incident and Mafi had been detained by New Zealand police.
A New Zealand Police spokesman confirmed that a court appearance had been set down for Monday,
“A 28-year-old man has been charged with injuring with intent to injure following an alleged assault in South Dunedin last night,” the spokesman said.
“The man is due to appear in the Dunedin District Court on the 16th July 2018.
“The alleged victim, also a 28-year-old man, received moderate injuries following the incident. He did not require hospitalisation. The pair were known to each other.”
Mafi and Timani both remained in New Zealand when the dejected Rebels squad flew home to Melbourne after a gut-wrenching end to the season saw them miss out on the playoffs by the barest of margins.
Rugby Australia said it would conduct its own investigation into the alleged fracas.
“Rugby Australia and the Melbourne Rebels are aware of an incident involving Rebels players Amanaki Mafi and Lopeti Timani in Dunedin overnight,” Rugby Australia said.
“Both players remain in New Zealand with Mafi currently in Police custody following an altercation between the two players.”
Two club representatives stayed in Dunedin with the players after the incident which Rebels CEO Baden Stephenson said had left him “bitterly disappointed”.
“I am bitterly disappointed that an incident has occurred at the end of a season where we have taken pride in our on and off-field behaviour,” he said.
“We will respect the process and won’t be making further comments until all investigations have taken place.”
The Rebels looked a sure thing to qualify for the playoffs before they fell in a heap and lost their last three matches of the season. The most devastating was against the Highlanders in Dunedin.
Knowing a win would be enough to get them through, they led 34-23 with just 17 minutes left before losing 43-37. Even then, they still had a chance but missed out on points difference when the Sharks beat the Jaguares overnight in South Africa.
Both Mafi and Timani were already expected to leave the Rebels after this season. Mafi plays international rugby for Japan and has been linked with a move to the Sunwolves while Lopani has already signed a new contract to play in France after failing to add to his 12 Test appearance for the Wallabies.
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Originally published as Departing Melbourne Rebel Amanaki Mafi arrested after Dunedin fight with teammate