Union delays Perez decision until after court case

The Taranaki Rugby Football Union board will wait until rep player Paul Perez's court appearance this week before deciding if it supports his bid to avoid deportation to Samoa.

TRFU chairman Peter Crawford said the board was briefed on Friday by chief executive Mark Robinson about Perez's situation.

"All I can say is that we will be looking at what happens in court on Wednesday and discussing it after that."

Perez, 23, was served with the removal order earlier this month when Immigration New Zealand revoked his work permit after he was convicted of domestic assault. He is also facing a separate assault charge that he intends to plead not guilty to when he appears back in court on Wednesday.

Perez's mentor, former Taranaki rugby academy manager Kevin Jones, said the pair met with Robinson on Friday morning before he went to the board. Jones last week said Perez would need the backing of the union if he was to have any chance of fighting his deportation.

Perez, who is halfway through his four-year contract, has made 36 appearances for Taranaki. He was the top tryscorer in 2008.

- © Fairfax NZ News