First hit from athlete: court

A BRITISH tourist who allegedly punched an Australian rugby union player told emergency services there had been an argument but denied flooring the footballer with a kinghit, a Sydney court has heard.

Sam Oliver, 23, has pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and reckless grievous bodily harm against rugby sevens veteran James Stannard, 35, in Coogee on March 30.

Oliver’s lawyer Chris Watson has argued in Downing Centre Local Court that his client was hit first and acted in self-defence.