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Delasau punches rugby fan

Wednesday 18th June 2008

Vilimoni Delasau: Fans to approach with caution!

Rugby fan Jeremaia Mudunaivalu got more than he bargained for when he approached Fijian winger Vilimoni Delasau for a photograph to be taken with his hero.

Instead, the 17-year-old supporter of the World Cup star got punched after Delasau thought he was pickpocketing him after last weekend's loss to New Zealand Maori in the Pacific Nations Cup match.

The Fiji Sun newspaper reported that Delasau appeared before Nadi magistrate Shafiullah Khan, pleaded guilty to assault and has escaped with a caution.

He was sorry for his actions and had sought forgiveness from the complainant and also paid him FJD$70 (�24) as compensation.

Mudunaivalu said he had forgiven Dealsau and the $70 was sufficient compensation.

The magistrate accepted the explanation from both sides and described it as a misunderstanding.

But he warned Delasau that he should show more patience and that he was a role model for youths.

The Fiji Rugby Union will now decide whether to discipline Delasau for breaching the national team's code of conduct.

He had unexpectedly pulled out of Fiji's Japan Leg of the Pacific Nations Cup at the last minute because of his court appearance, and has subsequently returned to France for club commitments with Clermont.