Rugby star Evans accused of 'glassing' man in nightclub'

SCOTLAND rugby star Max Evans has appeared in court accused of hitting a man in the face with a glass during a night out at the weekend.

The 26-year-old centre for Glasgow Warriors appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday after the alleged incident at a nightclub in the capital in the early hours of Sunday morning.

He pleaded not guilty to glassing Alisdair McCaig, 27, in the face, leaving him with cuts that had to be treated by ambulance staff.

Evans also denied possessing an offensive weapon - the glass - in a public place.

Wearing a tweed jacket and light-coloured chinos, the rugby player arrived to court alone to appear before Sheriff Celia Sanderson.

Represented by James Kelly, he spoke only to confirm his name and that he understood his bail conditions.

Evans was bailed under the conditions that he will not enter the nightclub, Lulu in George Street, or approach the victim.

Police said that both men had been taken in for questioning after the incident, but only Evans had been charged.

A spokesperson for Lothian and Borders Police said: "A man has been charged in connection with an assault on a 27-year-old man in a nightclub on George Street, at 1:15am on Sunday morning.

"The 26-year-old appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday."

A spokesman for the ambulance service said they had attended the scene but did not take anyone to hospital.

He said: "We attended at 2:19am on Sunday and treated a 27-year-old male who had been reportedly glassed. He had lacerations to his face. He wasn't taken to hospital."

To date, Evans has ten international caps to his name, and he starred in this year's Six Nations tournament.

Evans also played professional golf in Portugal between 2004 and 2006 while he was recovering from a back injury he sustained playing for London-based Harlequins Rugby Club's academy side.

His brother, 25-year-old Thom, used to play alongside him for Glasgow Warriors until a neck injury he sustained during Scotland's Six Nations match against Wales in February forced him to retire early.

The winger seriously damaged two vertebrae in an awkward collision with Lee Byrne in the international at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. Evans underwent an operation within hours of the game and was given the option of further surgery to stabilise his spine later in the week, aware this would severely limit his chances of returning to the athletic fitness necessary to play again at the top level of international sport.

He announced last month he was quitting the game on medical advice.

The Evans brothers appeared in the 2010 Dieux de Stade calendar and their cousin is the DJ and television presenter Chris Evans, 44.

Evans' trial is scheduled to take place in the new year.