Lesley Vainikolo has been ordered to appear before magistrates after being charged with GBH © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Lesley Vainikolo

Teams: England | Gloucester Rugby

Gloucester and England wing Lesley Vainikolo has been charged with causing Grievous Bodily Harm after his involvement in a brawl outside a Bath nightclub on October 26 2008.

The altercation left a man in his 20s in hospital with what were originally thought to be "critical" injures, but he was later discharged. The incident occurred hours after Vainikolo had made an influential impact in Gloucester's Anglo-Welsh Cup victory over Newport Gwent Dragons at Kingsholm, where he scored two tries.

Vainikolo has been ordered to appear before Bath Magistrate's Court on January 2 to answer the charges. He has been granted bail until the hearing. Tongan born Vainikolo has represented England on five occasions after qualifying through residency.

"Gloucester Rugby can confirm that Lesley Vainikolo has been charged with grievous bodily harm arising from an incident that took place on Oct 26, 2008," a Gloucester club statement said. "Lesley vigorously contests this allegation and, as demonstrated this season, remains completely focused on his rugby and will not allow this matter to distract him from his immediate rugby commitments to both his club and country. Neither the player or the club will be making any further comment."

Having crossed codes from rugby league side Bradford Bulls at the beginning of last season, Vainikolo made an immediate impact upon the Premiership by crossing for five tries on debut against Leeds. His form led to an England selection under Brian Ashton, and he made his debut as a replacment against Wales in the 2008 Six Nations championship.

Vainikolo has fallen out of favour with England in recent months however, with new manager Martin Johnson excluding him from both the England Elite Player Squad and Saxons squad in July.