Highlanders lock’s contract in jeopardy
New Highlanders lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit faces an anxious few days’ wait to see if his Super Rugby career is in jeopardy before it starts.
Selby-Rickit, 23, last month pleaded guilty to injuring with reckless disregard, after a September altercation in Invercargill in which a man ended up with a fractured jaw in two places and damaged teeth.
Selby-Rickit was remanded on bail and is due to reappear before an Invercargill court tomorrow.
A conviction could have grave implications for his career, including the termination of his contract.
A discharge without conviction might allow Selby-Rickit to continue his highly promising career, with Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger describing the lock – the son of former All Black Hud Rickit – as having ‘‘huge potential’’.
‘‘Manaaki is very skilled, very athletic, great aerial skills, great offload ability,’’ Mauger told Stuff.
Selby-Rickit is the younger brother of top netballers, Silver Ferns shooter Te Paea SelbyRickit and Steel defender Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit.
Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark was unable to comment when contacted by ,on the basis the case was still before the courts.
Rugby Southland general manager Brian Hopley also said he was unable to comment and added NZ Rugby would be taking the lead on what, if any, punishment would be handed down at the completion of the court process.
An NZR spokesperson said NZR had initiated a misconduct process which would be completed once Selby-Rickit’s court process was completed.
He said it was not appropriate to comment further.
It is understood that as his employer the Highlanders have supported Selby-Rickit throughout the legal process and will await the outcome of tomorrow’s court appearance before assessing the next step.
Selby-Rickit’s contract with the Highlanders pre-dated the altercation in Invercargill.
Although he was officially unveiled as a Highlander on Tuesday, he has been on their radar for a few seasons and signed his Highlanders contract about a year ago.
He has been recovering from back surgery and did not play for Southland in this year’s Mitre 10 Cup.
Asked about Selby-Rickit at yesterday’s coaches media session in Auckland, Mauger backed his player.
‘‘For us it’s just about putting support around Manaaki, we committed to him a long time ago and we’ve helped him develop over the years,’’ Mauger said.
‘‘We’re all prone to mistakes from time to time and if a family member makes a mistake you don’t hang them out to dry, do you?
‘‘Our responsibility is to make sure we put support around him and make sure he takes lessons out of this. He’s excited about moving forward and very remorseful around what has gone on so we couldn’t ask for much more.
‘‘We just want him to own it, which he is, and move forward with good support around him.’’
Although the circumstances differ, there are echoes of Losi Filipo and Sevu Reece in SelbyRickit’s case.
Filipo was initially discharged without conviction in 2016 for an assault in Wellington, although he later had his Wellington contract torn up and was resentenced with a conviction following public anger at his initial discharge.
Filipo has subsequently rebuilt his career and was named in a New Zealand Sevens development team in February.
All Blacks wing Reece was discharged without conviction in October last year on a charge of male assaults female, and subsequently picked up by the Crusaders.
Selby-Rickit is one of four relatively young locks on the Highlanders’ books – alongside Josh Dickson, Pari Pari Parkinson and Jack Whetton.
Losing him would be a blow for the side, particularly with their first game of the Super Rugby season less than three months away.
However, Super Rugby franchises are keenly aware of community expectations around player behaviour and would have little choice but to move on quickly if they have to.