A rugby player charged with assaulting three Wales players at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco has been ordered not to leave the United States after being released from jail.
Gordon Langkilde, who plays for Samoa and faces up to four years in prison if convicted, pleaded not guilty to four charges but was told by a judge he had to surrender his passport.
The 22-year-old was also ordered to stay away from Wales Sevens players Tom Williams, a former pupil of Rydal Penrhos School, Luke Morgan, and Ben Roach, who Langkilde is alleged to have assaulted, reports WalesOnline .
Langkilde was told he must remain in the States while awaiting trial on two counts of felony battery, one count of felony assault and one count of misdemeanour battery for allegedly attacking the players in the tunnel at AT&T Park in San Francisco at around 3.30pm on Saturday.
On Wednesday, the Samoan player appeared in San Francisco's Hall of Justice courtroom handcuffed and wearing an orange sweatsuit from the County Jail.
He was accompanied by Peter Poulos, Samoa's team manager, as he pleaded not guilty to the charges through his attorney, Joshua Bentley.
“My client will not leave the country if released,” the solicitor told San Francisco Superior Court Judge Stephen Murphy.
“His passport is with the sheriff.”
Mr Bentley also told the judge that Poulos would remain with the player “all the time” once released.
Judge Murphy ordered Langkilde to stay at least 150 yards away from Williams, Roach and Morgan, who are all believed to be back in Wales.
Langkilde must also check in with San Francisco’s Pretrial Diversion Project twice a week as a condition of his release.
Mr Bentley and Poulos both declined to comment outside the courtroom.
Langkilde is next scheduled to appear in court on Monday for a pre-hearing conference although it could be several weeks, if not months, before the case reaches a trial.
Wales had won the game against Samoa on Saturday 24-19 thanks to a golden point try scored by Ospreys player Williams, but as the two teams departed the field and went into the tunnel, things are alleged to have turned sour.
San Francisco Police confirmed Langkilde is accused of assaulting three Wales players, a 26-year-old who suffered facial injuries and a 22-year-old who had broken facial bones.
A third victim, a 24-year-old from Wales, also suffered facial injuries during the incident. Police did not release the names of the alleged victims.
Williams was reportedly left covered in blood after the alleged incident and is believed to have had his nose and cheekbone broken.
He was later withdrawn from the competition as a result of injuries from the fight.
Samoa has have suspended Langkilde.
The Welsh Rugby Union has previously confirmed that no Welsh player is facing any sanctions for the incident and confirmed World Rugby would investigate the issue.
