Kiwi in hospital after arrest

Huddersfield centre subjected to mental health checks

Last updated: 14th October 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Kiwi in hospital after arrest

Whatuira: mental health checks

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Huddersfield Giants centre Paul Whatuira has been taken to hospital for mental health checks after being arrested following two assaults.

The former New Zealand international was detained by police early on Tuesday morning after an incident on the outskirts of Huddersfield which left one man with serious facial injuries.

Having picked up Whatuira and initially taken him to Huddersfield police station in West Yorkshire, the decision was made to transfer the 28-year-old to a secure unit in Bradford for an assessment on his mental health.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "A 28-year-old man was arrested and later given police bail. He is undergoing a mental health assessment in a secure unit."

Giants managing director Richard Thewlis stated: "Paul and his family have the full medical support of the club available to them at this difficult time.

"I would ask that everyone respects the importance in this instance of confidentiality and understands that the club is upholding its duty of care to provide the best possible environment to help Paul.

"No-one from the club will be making any further comment."

Whatuira started his career in his native New Zealand with the Auckland Warriors and went on to represent the Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers and Wests Tigers in Australia before joining Huddersfield in 2008.

This season he was part of the Giants team that lost the Challenge Cup final to Warrington at Wembley.