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Fijian rugby player who assaulted woman in France facing deportation

(Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

A young Fijian rugby player has been sentenced to three months in prison after being found guilty of assault in France.

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Jolame Lawebuka, 20, admitted to assaulting a 40-year-old woman in the steets of Nevers after leaving a nightclub in the early hours of the morning of September 29th in what was described as a violent attack.

Lawebuka – a centre – had been living in France since joining Pro D2 side USON Nevers Rugby.

The player was also banned from living in France for two years.

Lawebuka told the judge that he understood his visa was going to be withdrawn and that he would be forced to leave the territory at the end of his incarceration.

The Fijian is not the only rugby player to appear in a French courtroom this season.

In September former England international Steffon Armitage was found guilty of sexual assault in Pau.

The back-row was accused of inappropriately touching a 19-year-old woman in bar following a night of drinking in the French town.

Armitage was handed a suspended six-month jail sentence and ordered to pay €5,000.

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Armitage had been to due to join Major League Rugby franchise The San Diego Legion, but the club cancelled his contract following his conviction.

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M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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