Manu Vatuvei

Vatuvei to be released from prison, join Warriors as mentor

Kiwis great Vatuvei was sentenced to three years and seven months imprisonment last year for importing and supplying a class A drug.

He appeared before the Parole Board yesterday and parole was granted, he will be released on May 31st.

Warriors chief executive Cameron George said they acknowledge the 37 year old had made some bad decisions and they don't condone them, but his experiences could be learned from.

George says it's a part-time voluntary role to help deliver programmes to young players around careers and best choices.

'I don't have sympathy for Manu Vatuvei' - Fauono Ken Laban

Rugby league commentator Fauono Ken Laban has condemned the actions of former league star Manu Vatuvei, but says part of the responsibility lies with his management team.

Vatuvei was sentenced to three years and seven months earlier this week in Manukau District Court for importing methamphetamine.

"You've got to find the people who failed Manu," says Fauono Ken Laban.

Former rugby league star Manu Vatuvei sentenced on meth import charge

The 35-year-old admitted his role in importing around 500 grams of methamphetamine from India, after denying it for nearly two years after being charged. He appeared for sentencing in the Manukau District Court today before Judge Jonathan Moses.

"Your fall from grace is a punishment in itself," Judge Moses said during sentencing.

Rugby league star Manu Vatuvei pleads guilty in meth importation case

The 35-year-old appeared in the Manukau District Court this morning.

He was due to stand trial this week on charges of importing methamphetamine and possessing methamphetamine for supply.

But he has now entered a guilty plea through his lawyer Vivienne Feyen to a representative importation charge.

Feyen told the court Vatuvei accepted responsibility for his offending.

Vatuvei has been remanded on bail ahead of his sentencing in December.

The Crown has indicated it will withdraw the remaining charges at sentencing.

Manu Vatuvei reveals himself as sportsman charged with importing methamphetamine

The Warriors icon is charged with possessing methamphetamine for supply and importing the Class A drug.

He has denied the charges, which were laid in December 2019.

Just days before suppression was due to lapse, Vatuvei took to Instagram to tell his followers about the charges in a video.

Vatuvei has had a long fight to keep his identity a secret, but on Sunday revealed himself as the “sportsman” charged, 48 hours ahead of the deadline for him to take his fight to the Court of Appeal.

Manu Vatuvei has brain cyst

The former New Zealand Warriors star - the team's all-time leading try scorer - has not played since 2017, leaving Salford Red Devils in Super League in 2018 after rupturing his Achilles.

Vatuvei moved into boxing but told reporters on Wednesday a scan before his first fight against David Letele in December, which he won by knockout, revealed the cyst.

"I've got a cyst in my brain, so that's been tough," Vatuvei said. "No symptoms, no nothing.

Dancing with the Stars victory just the start for league-turned-dance star Manu Vatuvei

He was declared the winner of Dancing with the Stars on Sunday night, after judges gave out 60 points to Laura and Shae, and 59 to Manu and Loryn.

It comes after they competed against the likes of newsreader Mike McRoberts, social media comedian William Waiirua and celebrity chef Nadia Lim.

Vatuvei was in tears, alongside his dance partner for the past three months Loryn Renyolds, after being named the winner of Dancing with the Stars 2019.

Former Warriors legend Manu Vatuvei to fight on Joseph Parker undercard

According to Stuff, the 32-year-old will take on Dave 'The Brown Buttabean' Letele on the undercard of Joseph Parker's bout with Alexander Flores at Horncastle Arena in Christchurch next month.

Event promoter Duco has called a press conference for Tuesday to announce the fight.

Vatuvei has recently returned from the UK, after an injury-plagued stint with Super League club Salford Red Devils.

An Achilles issue picked up in pre-season prevented him making a single appearance for the side and he was granted an early release from his contract in July.

Injury forces early termination of Manu Vatuvei's contract with Salford

After playing the side's final eight matches of 2017, Vatuvei has taken no part in the current Super League season after severely damaging his Achilles tendon in a freak training accident in February.

His contract was set to expire at the end of this season, but the 32-year-old will part ways with the Red Devils immediately.

"Unfortunately, the injury Manu sustained in pre-season meant that he would be out for the full season," said Salford director Ian Blease.

Vatuvei pulls up for Salford

Vatuvei left the Warriors in July to sign with the English club Salford. He has scored five tries in eight appearances with the Red Devils.

Salford have released a statement saying Vatuvei had suffered a suspected serious Achilles injury.

The 31-year-old wing is awaiting the results of a scan to determine the severity of the injury, which he suffered in training on Friday.

"It's terribly unfortunate that Manu has sustained an injury this close to the start of the season," said Salford head coach Ian Watson.