The England rugby winger and former Kiwi league international Lesley Vainikolo has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm following an early morning street brawl in October.
Tongan-born Vainikolo will appear at Bath Magistrates Court on the 2nd of January after being charged following a fight in Bath in which a man in his 20s was taken to hospital with head injuries.
But a spokesman for Gloucester rugby says Vainikolo "vigorously contests" the allegation and stressed there is no reason why the charge would prevent him from playing for the club.
