Former All Blacks scrum-half Byron Kelleher will appear in court after being accused of domestic violence by his former partner.
Le Parisien are reporting that the 47-year-old, who earned 57 caps for New Zealand between 1999 and 2007, faces trial today, Monday, January 15 for alleged domestic violence offences.
According to his former partner, Kelleher initially became “verbally and physically violent” in 2015, after she had given birth to a child.
She then left Toulouse, with the former All Black returning to New Zealand but, in 2022, the couple’s son expressed a desire to reconnect with his farther.
“Violence resumed”
“About a month after his return to France, Mr. Kelleher’s violence resumed,” the victim said in a statement. “He regularly consumes alcohol and in large quantities.
“For no valid reason, he repeatedly insults me, pushes me, pins me against the wall, punches me and strangles me.”
The ex-All Black responded to the allegations by stating that there had been “no violence” and that he had “not touched her”.
This is the latest in a long line of off-field controversies and accusations for Kelleher, who has been involved in a series of incidents both during and after his playing career.
In October 2009, he was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and assault after crashing his car into a Porsche, and received a two-month suspended jail sentence.
Four years later, he was arrested for driving on the wrong side of the road while being four times over the legal alcohol limit.
Meanwhile, June 2016 was his first arrest for domestic violence. The woman initially decided not to press charges over fear of reprisals, according to French police, but he was eventually convicted and fined in March 2017.
Wilfrid Hounkpatin
This news comes just a few days after it was announced that France prop Wilfrid Hounkpatin will face trial in April on domestic violence accusations.
It was alleged that an argument broke out between him and his partner, which led to Hounkpatin landing blows.
His club, Castres, released a statement, which read: “Castres Olympique has taken note of the legal proceedings carried out by the public prosecutor of Castres against Wilfrid Hounkpatin.
“The latter is being prosecuted for acts of domestic violence. Such actions would be in total contradiction with the values advocated by Castres Olympique.
“Immediately, the club has decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Wilfrid Hounkpatin, which is accompanied by a dismissal with a ban on entering his workplace.”
Hounkpatin was called up to the France squad for the first time in 2021 and earned his only cap against Australia during the July series.
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