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All Blacks star Shannon Frizell apologises over alleged assault

Shannon Frizell. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

All Blacks star Shannon Frizell is set to avoid conviction over an alleged assault that took place at a Dunedin nightclub in May.

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The 27-year-old loose forward appeared in the Dunedin District Court on Tuesday where he faced two charges of male assaults female and one of common assault.

Frizell did not enter a plea and was offered a diversion by the judge after defence counsel Anne Stevens QC asked for the case to be adjourned due to the fact her client was a first-time offender.

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In order to get diversion, and therefore avoid conviction, Frizell will be required to adhere to conditions set out by police, which could include restorative justice meetings, reparation payments or voluntary work.

The alleged incident took place at Vault 21, a popular bar/restaurant in the centre of Dunedin, two months ago.

Police later confirmed that they were investigating an incident at Vault 21 and said a rugby player “of significance” was involved.

Frizell, who has played 15 tests for the All Blacks since his international debut in 2018, issued an apology to “the people involved, my family, friends and the wider community” when he emerged from the court.

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“I would like to take this opportunity to say how very sorry I am for my behaviour during the incident in May this year,” he told reporters.

“I would especially like to say sorry to the people involved and the harm I have caused.

“I am very grateful for all the opportunity I’ve had and I won’t take them for granted.

“I let myself and others down, and will now try to do everything I can to restore people’s faith in me.

“I have already put a plan in place with  counsellors to help me address areas I want to work on.

“Once again, I’d like to apologise to the people involved, my family, my friends and the wider community.”

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Frizell was later granted bail and ordered not to contact either complainant or consume alcohol until his next court appearance in September.

The maximum penalty on a charge of male assaults female is two years’ imprisonment.

New Zealand Rugby [NZR] general manager professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum reportedly said the national body has undertaken its “own employment process” and it is aware that charges have been laid against Frizell.

Shortly after the alleged incident, Frizell was stood down by the Highlanders for a week in the lead-up to their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash against the Queensland Reds.

However, Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark said it was not punishment for Frizell, but rather a measure to avoid “distraction”.

Following the Super Rugby season, Frizell was named in the All Blacks squad that faced Tonga and Fiji earlier this month and appeared in both tests against Fiji.

He was then named in Ian Foster’s Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship squad last week.

The All Blacks are set to resume their international campaign against the Wallabies at Eden Park in Auckland next Saturday.

In April, Frizell signed a two-year contract extension with the Highlanders and NZR as he cited the culture of the Highlanders as a key reason behind his decision to stay in Dunedin.

“I have enjoyed my time here, I like Dunedin and the culture of the team, it seems to get the best out of me,” he said at the time.

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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