All Black Julian Savea's appearance in Wellington District Court this morning has been delayed briefly for his counsel to consider media applications to photograph him in court.
Savea, wearing a black Adidas t-shirt and jeans, stood in the dock while Judge Tony Walsh considered applications to take photographs and film in court.
Savea, 22, has been charged with assaulting his partner, Dawn Rodgers.
A request by Savea's lawyer that the applications be turned down and reconsidered at his next appearance was rejected by Judge Walsh.
He said he would stand the matter down briefly to allow time to consider the applications, then would hear arguments on the media coverage.
A large media contingent is in court to cover the appearance.
Savea was in tears yesterday as he issued an apology to his partner and her family.
"Whilst I can't go in to the details because it is now before the courts, I understand that the details will come out in due course," he said.
"But I will say that my partner and I did have an argument, I did some things that are wrong and that I shouldn't have done and I apologise for that."
- Heather McCracken of APNZ
