Former All Black convicted of domestic violence in France

Former All Black Byron Kelleher has been found guilty of domestic violence and fined $300, French newspaper La Depeche reports.

He was arrested in June last year after being accused of attacking his partner and damaging the front door of where he lives while intoxicated.

Kelleher was accused of pushing the woman after a night out drinking.

The woman involved told police at the time that Kelleher pushed her several times, grabbed her by the hair and threw her into a car.

In court Kelleher's lawyer described the incident as a "lovers' quarrel".

The 40 year old played 57 tests for the All Blacks between 1999 and 2007 before moving to France to play for Toulouse.

Kelleher has faced two previous charges of drink driving and was in a brawl after a crash while drink driving for which he was fined and received a two-month suspended sentence.

Following the 2009 incident, Kelleher made a public apology to local media.

He was also taken into custody in October 2013 for "driving while intoxicated" in Bordeaux.

Kelleher ran a rugby-themed bar called Haka Corner in Toulouse but the newspaper says Kelleher has now left France and moved to Bali with the woman he was convicted of assaulting.

Kelleher is the third former All Black to be in trouble with authorities in recent times.

Dan Carter was caught drink driving in Paris while Ali Williams was arrested and charged with allegedly trying to buy cocaine.

 

Photo: Photosport (Byron Kelleher playing for the All Blacks against England).