Former Kiwis rugby league forward Iafeta Paleaaesina will be sentenced on a serious assault charge at Liverpool Crown Court in Britain on June 16.
Paleaaesina, who now plays for Wigan Warriors, yesterday changed to guilty his plea over a charge of causing grievous bodily harm, The Telegraph newspaper reported.
He admitted breaking the jaw of a bus driver, James Campbell, following an incident at Wigan North Western railway station on October 6 last year.
A trial had been expected to start yesterday when 111kg Paleaaesina, who plays for Wigan Warriors, changed his plea at Liverpool Crown Court.
The assault took place at 5.20am on Saturday, October 6, in the car park of the railway station just hours after Wigan were knocked out of the Super League playoffs by Leeds Rhinos.
Paleaaesina played in the October 5 final eliminator at Headingley, which saw Wigan's hopes of reaching the final shattered at the final hurdle. The assault was captured on close circuit cameras.
Paul Becker, defending Paleaaesina, said: "He (Mr Campbell) concluded he was drunk at the time and may have appeared threatening or abusive.
"There clearly was a degree of provocation in this case which caused Mr Paleaaesina to behave in the way he did."
The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report.
Speaking outside court, Paleaaesina, 26, said: "Obviously I pleaded guilty. It was one of those things. I regret and I am truly sorry for what I have done."
Prosecutors have previously said defendants convicted of assaults of this nature, are normally jailed for 18 months.
