Shannon Frizell dropped by Highlanders after assault allegations

Highlanders loose forward Shannon Frizell will miss this weekend’s Super Rugby Trans-Tasman opener against the Reds having been allegedly involved in an assault on a woman in Dunedin.

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The alleged incident took place last weekend at a bar at around 02:30 and police are currently investigating.

As a result, Shannon Frizell will miss their clash against the Australian champions on Friday.

Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark admitted that the incident was a “distraction” and that dropping the 13-time All Black for the game was in the “best interests” of all involved.

“I think it is important for us all to remember at this time, these are all allegations and no charges have been laid,” Clark told reporters.

“However, these have been a distraction for the player, and the team. And in the best interests of everyone concerned, we are going to omit Shannon from the team this week.”

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The Highlanders conducted an internal investigation but left it in the hands of the police and Clark suggested he would be surprised should a charge be laid against Shannon Frizell.

“That is just based on what I know. So it is a personal opinion,” he said.

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It is not the first off-field incident involving the Highlanders this season as six players, including All Blacks playmaker Josh Ioane, were dropped for breaking team protocols in March.

Clark insists, however, that they and the relevant authorities are doing their best to guide their players through professional rugby and the publicity that comes with it.

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“I think, for me, that’s an ongoing challenge for us when we’re dealing with 50 young men from the ages of 19 to, say, 30 and that’s something we strive to be better at every day,” he added.

“Any time something happens, it’s completely unacceptable, and we do our very, very best every time to learn from each of those and try and get better.

“It’s something we’ll address again through the season, and at the end of the season, to be better again, because we have to be.”

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