Footy legend Wendell Sailor denies drunken assault of two men in Sydney CBD bar
Rugby great Wendell Sailor will contest allegations he assaulted two men during a drunken night out at an inner-city bar.
The 50-year-old former Brisbane Broncos and Wallabies star pleaded not guilty to all charges against him during a brief hearing at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday.
Police allege Sailor refused to leave the vicinity of a bar in the city centre after being refused service on the evening of November 6.
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He has been charged with two counts of common assault, behaving in an offensive manner, refusing to leave a licensed premises and stalking or intimidation.
Police had struggled to produce some key CCTV footage in relation to the matter, which had prompted the pleas, the court was told.
Sailor’s lawyer, Adam Houda, previously told the court that investigators were intending to withdraw one of the assault charges, a suggestion that was shot down by the prosecution.
“The officer in charge contacted me and told me he was going to be withdrawing a charge,” Mr Houda said.
A prosecutor replied: “That’s not the case, Your Honour.”
Sailor represented Australia in both rugby league and rugby union, including winning the 2000 Rugby League World Cup, where he was the top try-scorer.
He played nine seasons with the Brisbane Broncos before ending his NRL career in 2009 following two seasons with St George Illawarra.
The matter will return to court on March 20.
