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Rebels hand out hefty fines to Mafi and Timani over late night fracas

Tatafu Polota-Nau of the Force talks with Lopeti Timani and Amanaki Mafi after 2017 Super Rugby game

Amanaki Mafi and Lopeti Timani have been fined the maximum amount by their club Melbourne Rebels after their late night incident in Dunedin over the weekend.

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Both players will have to pay AUS$15,000 for breaking the Super Rugby club’s disciplinary protocols.

Melbourne Rebels loose forward Mafi appeared in Dunedin District Court on Monday after he was charged for injuring with intent to injure, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The alleged attack – on Rebels teammate Timani – happened in Dunedin and came after the Rebels lost 43-37 to the Highlanders on Saturday and were bounced from the playoffs.

Mafi entered no plea and was granted bail. He will reportedly return to Melbourne this week.

The terms of his bail mean he cannot associate with teammate Timani.

His case has been scheduled to return to court on August 3rd, but he won’t have to appear in person.

Rugby Australia and the Rebels confirmed in a statement Sunday night that Japanese international Mafi had been involved in an incident with Timani. It is understood no other players were involved.

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New Zealand Police released a statement following the incident, and said the victim had received moderate injuries but did not need require hosptialisation.

Melbourne Rebels CEO Baden Stephenson expressed his disappointment in a statement Sunday night.

“I am bitterly disappointed that an incident has occurred at the end of a season where we have taken pride in our on and off field behaviour,” the statement read.

“We will respect the process and won’t be making further comments until all investigations have taken place.”

Both Mafi and Timani are off contract after this season. Timani is set to head to France and join Top 14 side La Rochelle next season, while Japanese international Mafi has been linked with a move to the Sunwolves.

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J
JW 15 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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