UK rugby player denies assaulting town nightclub doorman

Wednesday 15 November 2023

A visiting rugby player has denied assaulting a doorman at the Royal Yacht on Saturday night.

Rufus Curd was released on bail to return to his home town of Brighton – with Relief Magistrate Peter Harris granting him “a degree of trust” that he will come back for his trial in January.

Legal adviser Paul Lee, prosecuting, told the Magistrate’s Court that Mr Curd and team mates had been in Jersey at the weekend for a league match and had gone to the hotel on Saturday night.

When staff would not allow them in, a scuffle broke out and Mr Curd is said to have punched a doorman in the face, leaving him with a cut to his left eye.

The 33-year-old Ditchling RFC player was in Jersey for a match against The Royals RFC. He denies a charge of assault.

A trial is due to take place in the Magistrate’s Court on 15 January. Mr Harris warned him that if he failed to attend the trial he would be arrested.