Rugby Sevens captain launched verbal attack on Briton before punch, court told

The captain of Australia’s Rugby Sevens team was punched to the ground by a British man during a night out in Sydney after launching a “verbal attack” on the tourist, a court heard.

Sam Oliver, 23, is accused of flooring James Stannard with a “king hit” punch – Australian slang for a one-punch attack – outside a kebab shop in the early hours of March 30.

The 35-year-old player struck his head on the pavement, leaving him with a fractured skull and vertigo, and spent two nights in hospital. He was unable to compete at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April.

Oliver, who is reportedly from Newcastle, has denied recklessly causing grievous bodily harm and the alternative charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and says he was acting in self-defence.

His lawyer alleges that Mr Stannard threw the first punch after launching an expletive-ridden “verbal attack” on Oliver in which he called the Briton a “pommy c***”, and left his client with a black eye.

A hearing at Sydney’s Downing Centre court on Monday was told Mr Stannard had been at an event with teammates in the suburb of Coogee, and had finished the night at the Coogee Bay Hotel, leaving the venue at about 3am.

Prosecutor Burton Ko told the court that a group of people had congregated outside the Erciyes kebab shop and that a witness, Mark Tobin, had seen two men “arguing” on the footpath.

Mr Ko said: “He saw what he describes as a blonde man – which the crown says was the accused – take three quick steps towards the bald man and king hit him.

“The prosecution says that James Stannard fell to the ground, cracked his head on the concrete footpath, he lost consciousness and started bleeding from his right ear.”

Mr Tobin said he could not remember exactly where Mr Stannard was hit, but described the punch as a “hooking motion”.

He told the court: “Out of the corner of my eye I’ve seen one fella step closer to the other fella and punch the other fella.”

He added: “He fell backwards and smashed his head on the side of the road.”

Another witness, Joshua Friend, the son of Rugby Sevens coach Andy Friend, described hearing a “sickening thud” as Mr Stannard fell to the floor.

He told the court: “James Stannard and Sam Oliver were talking and then Sam Oliver struck James Stannard with a quick right jab and hit him on his chin.

“I saw James’ eyes go to the back of his head like he was unconscious. There was a loud whack and that’s when everyone turned around.”

Following the incident, Oliver ran off and was chased by some of Mr Stannard’s friends, the court heard.

Giving evidence, Mr Stannard, who announced his retirement from rugby in June, said he could not remember the incident and that his last memory was of the band finishing their set at the Coogee Bay Hotel.

The next thing he remembered was waking up in hospital, he said.

“I had an extra sore head,” he added.

“I had blood coming out of my ear. I was quite anxious. I didn’t know what was going on.”

Chris Watson, representing Oliver, alleged that Mr Stannard had thrown the first punch, and suggested that the rugby player had a “degree of dislike for Englishmen” – which Mr Stannard denied.

Mr Watson told the court: “There’s no issue that my client did punch James Stannard.

“The question is whether or not when that occurred… that was the only response he believed was necessary.”

The hearing continues.