Latest news with #WendellSailor
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Footy star Wendell Sailor suffers a blow as he fronts court accused of assaulting two men in drunken late-night pub rampage
Dual-code rugby star Wendell Sailor will have to wait more than nine months to defend himself against claims he drunkenly assaulted two men after he was asked to leave a pub. The 50-year-old former Wallabies player allegedly refused to leave the vicinity of a bar in Sydney 's city centre on November 6. He is accused of assaulting two men - one of whom he allegedly intimidated - during a violent altercation outside the venue. The NRL and rugby union international has pleaded not guilty to two counts of common assault, behaving in an offensive manner, refusing to leave a licensed premises and intimidation. He is due to fight the allegations in a hearing in late February 2026 involving 21 witnesses, including 12 police officers. 'It's a larger case,' Sailor's lawyer Joseph Giang told Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday. Sailor is pictured with a cop (bottom right) in CCTV footage taken when police officers arrived to arrest him at a Sydney bar on November 6 last year He said the alleged violent altercation was captured on surveillance cameras and body cameras worn by police officers, which will be played during the hearing. The hearing was initially expected to run for two days but Magistrate Hugh Donnelly set it down for three days after questioning whether all the evidence could be heard in that time. The matter will return to court in November to ensure the full brief of evidence has been served on Sailor's lawyers before the hearing begins on February 18. Sailor, who was not required to appear in court on Thursday, will remain on bail. He represented Australia in both rugby league and rugby union, distinguishing himself as the top try-scorer when the national side won the Rugby League World Cup in 2000. Sailor also proved a prolific scorer during a four-year rugby union stint, crossing 13 times in 37 games for the Wallabies and earning a start in the 2003 World Cup final. He finished his 222-game NRL career in 2009 after nine seasons with the Brisbane Broncos and two seasons with St George Illawarra.
News.com.au
08-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
21 witnesses to give evidence at NRL legend Wendell Sailor's assault hearing
Twenty-one witnesses are set to give evidence in a hearing for rugby league great Wendell Sailor over allegations he assaulted two men during an incident at a Sydney bar. The former Brisbane Broncos and Wallabies winger pleaded not guilty in January to a string of charges relating to the alleged assault. The 50-year-old has been charged with two counts of common assault, behaving in an offensive manner, excluded person remaining in vicinity of licensed premises and stalk/intimidate. It's alleged Mr Sailor remained in the vicinity of a Sydney CBD bar on November 6 after being asked to leave. He was not required to appear in the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday when his matter was briefly mentioned. His solicitor Joseph Jiang told the court that 21 witnesses were set to give evidence in a hearing expected to span three days next February. Of those witnesses, six are civilians, 12 are police witnesses and three are defence witnesses, the court was told. CCTV footage and body-worn police footage from the night is also expected to be played to the court. Magistrate Hugh Donnelly commented on how long the matter had been dragged through the court. 'This matter's been before the court since November last year … it's well beyond the normal timeframe expected and it may be that it's a bigger case but we are now in May,' he said. Police were called to the Erskine St bar about 11pm on November 6, 2024, after reports of the alleged assault. No injuries were reported. Mr Sailor represented the Broncos and Dragons during his 222-game NRL career. No stranger to controversy, he then crossed codes, playing 37 Tests for the Wallabies before a drug ban for testing positive to cocaine ended his time in rugby union. After a two-year ban, Mr Sailor returned to rugby league, ending his career with the Dragons. Having forged a career in the media, Mr Sailor announced his retirement from Triple M 'effective immediately' in July last year. He had been a popular commentator and broadcaster on the Sydney drive show The Rush Hour with Gus, Jude & Wendell, alongside Gus Worland and Swans legend Jude Bolton. Mr Sailor had been a key member of the network's commentary team since 2015. The matter will return to court in December for a readiness hearing, with Mr Sailor's bail set to continue.
Perth Now
08-05-2025
- Perth Now
NRL legend's lengthy witness list
Twenty-one witnesses are set to give evidence in a hearing for rugby league great Wendell Sailor over allegations he assaulted two men during an incident at a Sydney bar. The former Brisbane Broncos and Wallabies winger pleaded not guilty in January to a string of charges relating to the alleged assault. The 50-year-old has been charged with two counts of common assault, behaving in an offensive manner, excluded person remaining in vicinity of licensed premises and stalk/intimidate. Wendell Sailor (right) has been charged with a string of offences relating to an alleged assault at a Sydney CBD bar. NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia It's alleged Mr Sailor remained in the vicinity of a Sydney CBD bar on November 6 after being asked to leave. He was not required to appear in the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday when his matter was briefly mentioned. His solicitor Joseph Jiang told the court that 21 witnesses were set to give evidence in a hearing expected to span three days next February. Of those witnesses, six are civilians, 12 are police witnesses and three are defence witnesses, the court was told. CCTV footage and body-worn police footage from the night is also expected to be played to the court. Magistrate Hugh Donnelly commented on how long the matter had been dragged through the court. 'This matter's been before the court since November last year … it's well beyond the normal timeframe expected and it may be that it's a bigger case but we are now in May,' he said. Police were called to the Erskine St bar about 11pm on November 6, 2024, after reports of the alleged assault. Mr Sailor will return to court next year. NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles Credit: News Corp Australia No injuries were reported. Mr Sailor represented the Broncos and Dragons during his 222-game NRL career. No stranger to controversy, he then crossed codes, playing 37 Tests for the Wallabies before a drug ban for testing positive to cocaine ended his time in rugby union. After a two-year ban, Mr Sailor returned to rugby league, ending his career with the Dragons. Having forged a career in the media, Mr Sailor announced his retirement from Triple M 'effective immediately' in July last year. He had been a popular commentator and broadcaster on the Sydney drive show The Rush Hour with Gus, Jude & Wendell, alongside Gus Worland and Swans legend Jude Bolton. Mr Sailor had been a key member of the network's commentary team since 2015. The matter will return to court in December for a readiness hearing, with Mr Sailor's bail set to continue.
Perth Now
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Blow for footy legend over drunken assault claims
Dual-code rugby star Wendell Sailor will have to wait more than nine months to defend himself against claims he drunkenly assaulted two men after he was asked to leave a pub. The 50-year-old former Wallabies player allegedly refused to leave the vicinity of a bar in Sydney's city centre on November 6. He is accused of assaulting two men - one of whom he allegedly intimidated - during a violent altercation outside the venue. The NRL and rugby union international has pleaded not guilty to two counts of common assault, behaving in an offensive manner, refusing to leave a licensed premises and intimidation. He is due to fight the allegations in a hearing in late February 2026 involving 21 witnesses, including 12 police officers. "It's a larger case," Sailor's lawyer Joseph Giang told Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday. He said the alleged violent altercation was captured on surveillance cameras and body cameras worn by police officers, which will be played during the hearing. The hearing was initially expected to run for two days but Magistrate Hugh Donnelly set it down for three days after questioning whether all the evidence could be heard in that time. The matter will return to court in November to ensure the full brief of evidence has been served on Sailor's lawyers before the hearing begins on February 18. Sailor, who was not required to appear in court on Thursday, will remain on bail. He represented Australia in both rugby league and rugby union, distinguishing himself as the top try-scorer when the national side won the Rugby League World Cup in 2000. Sailor also proved a prolific scorer during a four-year rugby union stint, crossing 13 times in 37 games for the Wallabies and earning a start in the 2003 World Cup final. He finished his 222-game NRL career in 2009 after nine seasons with the Brisbane Broncos and two seasons with St George Illawarra.
