Lauaki charged with assault

Wellington - Former All Blacks forward Sione Lauaki has been charged with assault over a bar room incident in his home town of Hamilton last week.

Lauaki, a backrower who has played 17 Tests for New Zealand, was charged on Wednesday after an investigation by Hamilton police.

He will appear in the District Court at Hamilton on March 23.

The 28-year-old Lauaki was due to return to the Chiefs side for its Super 14 match against the Crusaders on Friday, ending a two-week suspension for a dangerous tackle. But Chiefs coach Ian Foster said Lauaki would now be omitted from the team.

"Sione and I have decided that in light of the week that he has had, that the right thing to do is not play him in this game," Foster said. "We will fully support Sione over the next few weeks."

In 2006 Lauaki avoided conviction after being charged with assaulting a security guard and in 2009 took an anger management course after being charged with damaging an Auckland motel.