A letter from Connacht Rugby told a New Zealand court that a conviction in Sevu Reece's domestic charge case would have led to his pre-contract being rescinded.
Judge Denise Clark said that a letter from the Irish province informed her that a conviction would have resulted in a pre-contract agreed in May being withdrawn and ending his opportunity to play for the club.
The 21-year-old Fijian wing, who looked set to join the Irish province in November, appeared in court on a domestic violence charge in New Zealand yesterday and was discharged without conviction.
In quotes provided to OffTheBall.com, the judge said: "I have considered your circumstances and it’s certainly not the case that because you are good at playing rugby that you get the opportunity to be discharged without conviction."
Ahead of the decision by Judge Clark, lawyer for Reece, Mark Jepson, told the court: "He would be going to a very strict club.
"It’s very professional in Ireland, and the type of behaviour and culture that he’s been involved with here in New Zealand probably won’t be the same there."
Connacht's move for Reece now appears unlikely to go ahead.
"Connacht Rugby and the IRFU are aware of media reports concerning Sevu Reece and his recent court appearance," the club said in a brief statement last night.
"We are currently seeking to clarify information around the situation prior to commenting further on the matter."
A two-year agreement with the Irish province had been in place and Reece looked set to land on Irish shores in November following the international Test series.
The court heard that on July 1st, a heavily intoxicated Reece chased his girlfriend down the street and a local report said that he dragged her to the ground. This left the woman with bruising on her waist and face and bleeding to her knee.
Reece was ordered to pay his victim $750 within 28 days for emotional harm reparation.
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