Aussie Sevens Skipper James Stannard Will Miss Games After Street Assault Fractures His Skull

Australian rugby sevens captain James Stannard will miss the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games after an assault outside a kebab shop in Sydney left him with a fractured skull.

The 35-year-old was taken to St.Vincent’s Hospital following the attack which happened in the early hours of Friday morning in Australia.

The Aussies face England in Pool B along with Samao and Jamaica.

Wales are in Pool D with Uganda, Fiji and Sri Lanka with the pool games being played at Robina Stadium on April 14.

Australian rugby sevens press attache Chris Ford said: “He is in a stable condition, awake and being closely monitored.

“At this stage, we’re not sure whether he will miss the Commonwealth Games or not.

“It’s shocking news and he’s pretty lucky.”

New South Wales Police said a 22-year-old British national had been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm after being detained by members of the public.

“A man has been charged over an alleged ‘one punch’ assault, which has left another man in hospital with head injuries,” the police said in a statement.

“About 3:10am today (30 March), a 35-year-old man was standing outside a kebab shop on Coogee Bay Road, Coogee, when he was punched in the head in an alleged unprovoked assault.

“As a result, he fell and struck his head on the pavement.

“The 22-year-old man who threw the punch then fled the scene but was apprehended by witnesses until police arrived and placed him under arrest.

“The victim was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital where he is understood to be in a stable condition with head injuries.”

Stannard  was recently appointed captain of the Australian side after Lewis Holland was ruled out through injury.