Saracens rugby star, 23, punched law grad twice in the jaw during bar brawl after he bumped into him

A RUGBY star beat up a law graduate after he accidentally bumped into him at a bar, a court heard.

Saracens ace Kapeli Pifeleti, 23, says a “red mist” came over him before he assaulted Charlie Boyns, 25, on December 2.

GettyKapeli Pifeleti of Saracens appeared in court this week[/caption]

He had been drinking at Cafe Sol, Clapham High Street, when the incident occurred around midnight, reports MailOnline.

Prosecutor Andreas Malekos told Croydon Magistrates’ Court: “There was a dispute when the defendant bumped into him, which started a verbal exchange and this defendant asked: ‘What are you doing?’

“He was then hit twice in the face by this defendant and felt immediate pain and swelling.

“At one point he puts the victim into a headlock and the entire incident last around ten seconds.”

Mr Boynes suffered a cut to his lip and swelling.

In his victim impact statement he said: “This was my first night out with two new housemates. The guy was huge and hit me for no reason.

“I was in the process of receiving two months of physiotherapy and this makes things so much worse.”

Defending Pifeleti Mark Haslam told the court: “The defendant accepts he is at fault and took matters to a higher level and accepts that he was drunk when he struck the blows in a period of ten seconds.

He added: “His behaviour that night was unacceptable and self-intoxication is not an excuse. The defendant accepts all of that and apologises profusely.

“He made full and frank admissions at the scene and has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

“’There is effectively a double punishment here because this is not the end of the matter as far as his employers are concerned. They will monitor his performance as part of the penalty.

“The red mist had come down and he was flailing around in a drunken state.”

Pifeleti pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm, was fined £500, ordered to pay the victim £600 compensation, plus £85 court costs and a £200 victim surcharge.

His club also imposed community service upon him. He will spend two hours a week with the club’s charitable organisation.

Magistrate Steven Van Gelder said: “There are consequences here and the club are going to impose on their player penalties in excess of what we impose.

“You pleaded guilty on the first occasion and made admissions in your police interview,’ the magistrate told the grey-suited Pifeleti.

“There are aggravating factors here. You were intoxicated, highly intoxicated and you started this and it must have been a very distressing incident for everybody in that busy night time bar.

“We know you have written a letter of apology to the person you attacked that night and have been doing well in the community.

“We know you are supported by your rugby club and you have been given a formal warning as to your further behaviour.

“You will almost certainly be in serious trouble with your rugby career if there is another serious incident.”