Melbourne Rebels star Amanaki Mafi may sit down with the teammate he is accused of attacking, a court has heard.
Rebels loose forward Amanaki Mafi carries the ball against the Highlanders. Photo: Photosport
Loose forward Mafi was last month charged with injuring with intent to injure over an alleged altercation with Lopeti Timani in the New Zealand town of Dunedin, following a loss by their team.
Mafi, who is on bail and currently in Japan, was excused from appearing at Dunedin District Court on Friday morning.
His lawyer requested the court change a bail condition that kept Mafi from associating with 12-cap Wallaby Timani, because there was a possibility the two could sit down for a restorative justice conference, which under New Zealand law allow parties to legal cases to informally meet.
The judge allowed the variation, on the condition any meeting would be supervised by police.
The 28-year-old has not yet entered a plea. His case will return to the court in two weeks.
The Rebels fined Mafi and Timani $15,000 each for breaching team protocols and team management instructions last month over the incident.
"Notwithstanding that both Amanaki Mafi and Lopeti Timani were finishing at the Rebels this season and heading overseas to continue their playing careers, it is only appropriate, given the seriousness of the incident, to sanction both players with a significant fine," Rebels chief Baden Stephenson said.
Rugby Australia is conducting its own investigation into the incident but is awaiting the outcome of the criminal case in New Zealand.
Mafi signed with the Rebels in 2016 and played for Japan in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
- AAP
