Girlfriend stands by assault accused All Black

A former television presenter who was allegedly assaulted by her All Black boyfriend has denied she was hit and has described the charges as "insane".

All Black flanker Adam Thomson was arrested last Sunday in Havelock North after allegedly assaulting Joanne Holley twice earlier that morning at a wedding reception.

The 26-year-old made a brief appearance in the Hastings District Court on Tuesday and was remanded on bail and without plea until January 29.

The Herald on Sunday today reported Holley told a friend she and the rugby player had just had a heated verbal argument.

"He's a sweetheart who'd never hurt a fly," she told her friend.

Holley was believed to have told police the incident was a storm in a teacup, but police were understood to have a statement from one eyewitness that said otherwise.

Holley, also 26, was a presenter on TV2 children's show Squirt until the end of 2006. She will MC at Gisborne's Rhythm and Vines festival starting tomorrow.

The friend, who did not wish to be named, told the Herald on Sunday that Holley would never tolerate domestic violence. She had described the charges as "insane" and was sticking with Thomson.

"She said to me, ‘I can't believe it, it seems like such a stitch-up – that just because he's an All Black an argument could suddenly turn into something crazy'."

Holley was standing by Thomson "100 percent", the friend said.

Thomson's father, Ashburton man Bevis Thomson, has said the alleged assault would be out of character. "I know him well, the nature of him."

Thomson was bailed to his Dunedin address until his next court appearance, on the condition that he not "offer violence" to his partner.

Thomson represented New Zealand at secondary schools, under-19, under-21 and Sevens before he made his All Blacks debut in June this year against Ireland.

- NZPA