Ioane given new court date

Wallabies winger Digby Ioane will face a Melbourne court in August over an alleged assault, reports said Tuesday. Ioane, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions due to a shoulder injury, had been slated to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday. But the Wallabies were caught off-guard by the court date and the 27-year-old failed to appear, meaning a warrant was issued for his arrest. The Queensland Reds player was Tuesday issued a revised court date of August 6 -- after the Super Rugby final on August 3 and before start of the The Rugby Championship -- after reporting to police, AAP said. The assault charge stems from a scuffle at a hotel in March in which a 30-year-old man allegedly sustained a minor leg injury. Australian Rugby Union's Bill Pulver said the matter was "a storm in a teacup". "Had Digby attended court, my understanding is he would have been issued with a small fine to donate to a local charity," Pulver told The Australian. "He is getting in contact with Prahran police, a new court date is being set and the warrant is being withdrawn. It's a storm in a teacup." Apart from Ioane the Wallabies will also be without injured Pat McCabe for the remaining two Tests against the Lions. Fullback Berrick Barnes will miss Saturday's second Test in Melbourne after he was concussed in the first half of last Saturday's 23-21 loss to the Lions in the first Test in Brisbane. From: AFP