Second Wallaby charged

Sydney - A second member of Australia's national rugby union team has been ordered to appear in court after being charged by police with a criminal offence.

Flyhalf Kurtley Beale was charged with assault after an incident at a family birthday party this year and will appear in a Sydney court next month, local media reported on Wednesday.

"Kurtley has told us he will vigorously defend the charge and denies the allegation," a spokesman for the Australian Rugby Union told reporters. "He is entitled under the justice system to the presumption of innocence."

Beale is the second Australian international charged with a criminal offence this month after his Wallabies team mate Quade Cooper faced a Queensland court last week charged with burglary.

Cooper pleaded not guilty and his case was adjourned until July.

Beale and Cooper are regarded as two of Australia's brightest young prospects and were both members of the Wallabies squad who recently toured Britain and Ireland.