No charges for Huddersfield Giants star Paul Whatuira after street attacks

Nov 11 2009 By Andrew Hirst and Barry Gibson

CHARGES will not be pressed against a rugby star arrested after two men were hurt in street attacks, it emerged last night.

Huddersfield Giants player Paul Whatuira was arrested last month after two men were attacked in Longroyd Bridge.

One of the victims suffered severe facial injuries including a broken nose, missing teeth and other damaged teeth.

It is understood that Whatuira, 28, was being treated at St Luke’s Hospital in Crosland Moor at the time, but had left the hospital shortly before the attacks.

Police took the New Zealand international to a mental health unit in Bradford after his arrest.

A police spokeswoman said yesterday that a 28-year-old man had been released from hospital on October 26. He was questioned by police on November 3.

The spokeswoman said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has advised us not to take any further action.”

Whatuira – known as Fatz to his teammates – has been to see his club and international colleagues since his release.

It emerged yesterday that he has been seen watching his Huddersfield Giants teammates training and also met up with the Kiwis.

His manager, Australia-based Sam Ayoub previously revealed that Whatuira was excited about becoming a dad in the coming months and sounded fine just days before the bizarre sequence of events which led to his arrest.