All Blacks and Highlanders loose forward Shannon Frizell has had criminal charges against him dropped after an alleged assault at a nightclub.
The 27-year-old’s case was called before Judge Peter Rollo in the Dunedin District Court on Tuesday morning.
Frizell was not present as his appearance in court was excused.
Frizell had faced two charges of male assaults female and another of common assault after allegedly assaulting two people, a man and a woman, at Dunedin bar Vault 21 in May.
Frizell, a first time offender, did not enter a plea at his first appearance on July 27 with his lawyer Anne Stevens QC confirming he had been offered diversion by police.
On Tuesday morning, police said Frizell had completed diversion and the charges were dismissed.
After Frizell, who made his All Blacks debut in 2018 and has played 15 tests, first appeared, he delivered a statement outside of court.
He told the media: “I would like to take this opportunity to say how very sorry I am for my behaviour during [the] incident in May this year.”
‘’I would especially like to say sorry to the two people involved and for the harm I have caused. I let myself and others down and will now try to do everything I can to restore people’s faith in me.
‘’I have already put a plan in place with counsellors to help me address the areas I want to work on.
“Once again, I’d like to apologise to the people involved, my friends, family and the wider community.’’
Frizell, who remains part of the All Blacks squad, was stood down for a test match after the court appearance, and later wasn’t taken on tour to Australia.
