Former Australia and Catalans forward Greg Bird has been spared jail after a conviction for recklessly wounding his girlfriend was quashed.
Former Dragons player has conviction overturned on appeal
Former Australia and Catalans forward Greg Bird has been spared jail after a conviction for recklessly wounding his girlfriend was quashed on appeal.
Bird was convicted of recklessly wounding Kate Milligan in April and later sentenced to at least eight months in jail, with a maximum of 16 months.
Milligan had suffered a broken eye socket and cuts to her eye during an altercation at the player's Sydney home in August 2008.
Both gave evidence at Bird's appeal hearing this week, blaming Milligan's drug use and aggression for the fight which she started.
She told the court that during the fight she "lunged" at Bird with a water glass as he took a "defensive position" and tried to grab her wrists.
Neither could explain how the glass broke, just saying that Milligan fell to the floor clutching her eye.
The 25-year-old played for the French-based Super League side Les Catalans this year but is now free to return to the Australian NRL in 2010.
Natural course
The North Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans, both from Queensland state, have already expressed interest in signing him for the new season.
Titans chief executive Michael Searle said: "We have allowed court proceedings to take their natural course and now that they have been completed we will endeavour to speak as a club and with Greg and his partner about his plans for the future.
"The club has a good track record of working with players who have had previous off-field issues and we are interested in talking with Greg and his partner to see where he believes his future may be headed.
"We will also consult with the NRL throughout this process."
However, the Dragons have offered the player a new two-year contract with general manager Christophe Levy hopeful Bird will choose to stay.
"We are very happy for Greg and Katie. It has been a tough year for them. This action has changed their lives.
High demand
"We are lucky to have had Greg playing for us at the Catalans Dragons.
"Now we know he is going to be in high demand but the salary cap could be a problem for the Australian clubs. We are keeping a spot available."
Coach Kevin Walters would love to continue to work with Bird, adding: "This clears the way for him to play rugby league but where he ends up remains a mystery.
"We're like the other clubs, just waiting to have a chat with him.
"We've saved a spot for him on our overseas quota and if he chooses to play for us that would be fantastic.
"We may have an inside running because he played here last year.
"He's a world-class player so you'd expect other clubs to be interested but we're prepared to give him extra time."
