Gruesome pic: Rebels player battered after bust-up

Cape Town - An Australian newspaper has published pictures of Rebels player Lopeti Timani's injuries after an altercation with a team-mate.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Timani was involved in a fight with Amanaki Mafi following their 43-37 loss to the Highlanders on Saturday. 

The newspaper published a photograph on its back page this week showing Timani with two black and bruised eyes. 

The duo, both Tongan-born, were each handed a A$15 000 (R150 000) fine by their club following an incident in Dunedin.

According to the report, Mafi faces a potential five-year jail term and the case will come before the courts again on August 3, although Mafi was excused from having to appear personally on that date.

Mafi, 28, will not be allowed to play for the Rebels next season due to the fact that he is a Japanese international and falls under foreign restrictions. 

But, given this latest unsavoury incident, not the first of Mafi's career, it's unlikely they would have have second-guessed keeping him around.

Timani, 27, has played 12 Tests for Australia and will be heading to France next season.

?@telegraph_sport? backpage splashing with the horrific injuries suffered by ?@MelbourneRebels? star Lopeti Timani after allegedly being attacked by ?@SuperRugby? teammate Amanaki Mafi last weekend. https://t.co/OWM1KXzUNA pic.twitter.com/mY6PXipBi8

— Tim Morrissey (@timmorrissey) July 17, 2018