Samoa Sevens player Gordon Langkilde’s hearing deferred until next week

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Gordon Langkilde is tackled during the Vancouver Sevens in March. Picture: PHOTOSPORT

SAN FRANCISCO, 17 AUGUST 2018 (RNZ PACIFIC) – The court hearing for Samoa sevens international Gordon Langkilde has been deferred by another week as he awaits trial following an off-field altercation at the Sevens World Cup.

The 22-year-old was last month charged on two counts of battery, one count of assault and one misdemeanour charge relating to an incident with Welsh players during last month’s tournament in San Francisco.

Pacific Rugby Players CEO Aayden Clarke said the hearing was delayed because the officer in charge is still out of the country.

Langkilde, who pleaded not guilty, has been in the United States for four weeks and Aayden Clarke admits the latest delay is frustrating.

“We found out early this morning that it’s going to be deferred,” he said.

“Gordon arrived at the hearing with our legal team and also Manu Samoa [sevens] team manager Pete Poulos, who is supporting him on the ground still there, and we are advised that they have to return a week later [on August 22nd US time].”

Aayden Clarke said it was not an easy situation for Langkilde, who has a young family back in Apia, but said the player remains in good spirits.

“It is a long time and not just for Gordon on the ground but also, obviously, for his family, who are back home and extremely concerned about what the outcomes may be,” he said.

“So definitely not ideal but in these situations, with the seriousness of it, it’s really important that we have all the processes followed and all our homework done before getting in front of the District Attourney next.”

Aayden Clarke said the one silver lining is that with their legal team exploring a number of different avenues an extra week gives them more time to prepare their case.

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