Rugby: Blues midfielder pleads guilty to driving charge

Francis Saili of the Blues fends off Daniel Carter of the Crusaders.
Francis Saili of the Blues fends off Daniel Carter of the Crusaders.
Blues' midfielder Francis Saili is trying to keep his criminal record clean after admitting a driving charge, and will now face a rugby disciplinary hearing.

Saili pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while disqualified when he appeared at the Manukau District Court yesterday.

He lost his licence after racking up demerit points.

Saili's lawyer Joey James asked Community Magistrate Philip Greenbank not to enter a conviction against his client because he would be seeking a discharge without conviction.

A judge can order a discharge without conviction if it is found that the consequences of a conviction would outweigh the gravity of the offending.

Asked by Mr Greenbank what the grounds were for such an application, Mr James said it was because his client was a high-profile rugby player and there had been considerable media attention.

Mr Greenbank said that was unlikely to be enough.

Mr James said his client may wish to travel in the future, and a conviction could stop him from entering some countries.

"The New Zealand Rugby Union has already confirmed that a criminal conviction could impact on his ongoing employment.''

Mr Greenbank said the court would need to see letters from overseas authorities confirming that a conviction would impact on Saili's ability to travel.

Saili will find out his fate later this month, and declined to comment outside court.

According to the police charge sheet in court, Saili was stopped on Auckland's southwestern motorway on April 12.

Outside court yesterday, senior police prosecutor Sergeant Paul Watkins said Saili would be treated like anyone else when police consider whether to support his application for a discharge without conviction.

He said Saili's charge was serious.

"He accumulated demerit points and Parliament has directed that a person who does that should be off the road for three months. He has taken no heed to that direction.''

Another of Saili's lawyers, Dan Hughes, told APNZ that Saili was committed to getting on with his rugby career.

"This is at the minor end of the scale in terms of charges.''

Asked about whether the media attention would form part of the discharge without conviction argument, Mr Hughes said the application had not been finalised.

The criminal charge is not the end of Saili's worries.

Blues' chief executive Andy Dalton said the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) had begun a "misconduct process'' and a hearing would be held after Saili is sentenced in the criminal courts.

Blues' coach Sir John Kirwan told the media about Saili's charge two weeks ago.

He said Saili was accused of being caught driving after losing his licence because of speeding tickets. He dropped the midfielder from the starting lineup to face the Reds that weekend.

"He's a young man who has done a silly thing. We're not playing him in our starting 15 for punishment of that and there are NZRU protocols that are taking place.''

Kirwan said Saili had apologised to the team.

"We just asked him to take more responsibility and make better decisions. He was disappointed, he apologised to the boys.''

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