All Blacks and Chiefs rugby player Sione Lauaki's sentencing for an attack on a bar patron has been adjourned so he can apply for a discharge without conviction.
Lauaki earlier pleaded guilty to assault relating to an incident at Hamilton's Coyote Bar in which he got into a fight with a patron while drinking at about 2am on March 5.
He punched the victim at least twice, with one closed fist blow leaving him with cuts and bruises to the lips.
The New Zealand Rugby Union fined Lauaki $4000 over the assault and said it would terminate his contract should there be another incident.
Lauaki was at the time on a two-match suspension for a dangerous tackle in the Chiefs' match against the Lions in Johannesburg in February.
Lauaki's lawyer David Allen today asked Judge Arthur Tompkins for sentencing to be adjourned so an application for a discharge without conviction could be made.
A conviction would have serious consequences for Lauaki because he had received an offer to play overseas, Mr Allen said.
Lauaki had already been affected by negative media coverage of the incident, he said.
Police were not opposed to the adjournment.
Lauaki played 17 tests between 2005 and 2008, but last year said he believed his All Blacks days were over.
The 1.94m tall, 115kg player has been in trouble with the law before.
In 2006, he was offered police diversion after admitting to assaulting a Hamilton security officer.
Last year, he underwent an anger management course after appearing in court for damaging an Auckland motel unit.
Lauaki was last month found semi-conscious in a car that had crashed into a paddock after a post-match meal and drinks with teammates. He was treated for a swollen arm.
A Chiefs spokeswoman said alcohol was not a factor in the crash, but police are yet to decide whether to press charges while they await the results of a blood alcohol test, due next week.
Lauaki could still face charges over the incident even if the results were negative, a police spokesman said.
