Ex-rugby league out boy accused

FORMER SAMOAN INTERNATIONAL ATTACKED YOUNG VICTIM OUTSIDE A PUB AND BROKE HIS NOSE

AN ex-rugby league player knocked a boy out and broke his nose for allegedly bullying his son, a court heard.

Vila Matautia, an ex-Samoan international who starred for St Helens and later Leigh Centurions, pleaded guilty to assaulting a teenager when he appeared before Liverpool Crown Court.

Former prop forward Matautia, 48, claimed he struck the young victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, because he had been bullying his son.

Before he admitted a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm, the defend- ant’s barrister, Tom Watson, requested a Goodyear indication from Judge Steven Everett.

This is an indication of the likely maximum sentence an offender will receive if they plead guilty – a legal deal that can prevent a trial from taking place.

In response, Judge Everett asked prosecu- tors to outline the incident, which happened at around 4.35pm, on December 4 last year. Simon Duncan, prosecuting, said the victim was standing with friends behind a pub in a Merseyside village before the attack. He received a Snapchat message, purportedly from Matautia’s son’s account, asking where he was, but did not respond. Matautia walked down the