Mils Muliaina shocked and distressed by assault allegations

Former All Black Mils Muliaina believed he was being taken for a random drug test when Gloucestershire Police came to arrest him following Connacht's 14-7 European Challenge Cup defeat to Gloucester at Kingsholm Stadium on Friday. He left the field injured in the first half.

A BBC report said the alleged assault on a woman took place in the Brewery Quarter of Cardiff on March 6th.

On that same date Muliaina had figured in the Connacht team defeated by Cardiff in the Welsh capital.

Both his agent Simon Porter and his lawyer Matthew de Maid said the Samoan-born Connacht player, who departs for Italian side Zebre at the end of the season, has denied the charges.

Speaking to New Zealand news website One News de Maid said he does not know whether the 100 times capped World Cup winning player will be charged or not.

“Mr Muliaina has spoken to the police. He has totally denied the allegation that has been made,” de Maid told One News. “He has not been charged with any offence and he has been released while the police carry out their investigation. And that is it.”

Certain view

“He hasn’t been charged. Whether he will or not remains to be seen. I’ve got a certain view that I won’t express on camera.”

Porter said that the 34-year-old was “distressed” over the sexual assault allegation and said that it came as a “complete shock”.

Muliaina spent about 20 hours at Cardiff Bay Police station being questioned by officers following the game. Police had 24 hours to charge him.

“He had a night in the police cells, he’s pretty distressed, trying to deal with it, and it came as an absolute shock to him,” said Porter, who added that the player would fight to clear his name.

South Wales Police, who are leading the investigation said: “A 34-year-old man from the Galway area in the Irish Republic has been arrested on suspicion of committing a sexual assault. He has been released on police bail pending further investigation.”

No Connacht official was available to say if Muliaina had played his last match for the province. The team, coached by Pat Lam, has four games remaining in the regular league season before the playoffs commence.