Former rugby league international and heavyweight boxer John Hopoate has spent the night behind bars after he allegedly threatened a business owner on Sydney's lower north shore.
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Police arrested the 42-year-old at Manly police station on Thursday following the alleged incident at the business in Crows Nest on Wednesday.
Police will allege in court that Hopoate made a "number of threats" against the business owner, and stole a drink from the premises.
"A 42-year-old man attended Manly police station yesterday afternoon where he was charged with contravening an Apprehended Personal Violence Order, intimidation and stealing," a NSW Police spokesman said.
Hopoate was refused police bail and is due to appear in the Downing Centre Local Court on Friday.
In June, Hopoate was fined $1500 and placed on an 18-month good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to assaulting a supermarket worker in Crows Nest.
The court heard at the time that Hopoate had a 75 per cent share in a deli operating within the supermarket, and had thrown two swinging punches at the supermarket worker when he tried to walk away from him.
Hopoate, who represented Manly, Wests Tigers and Northern Eagles, courted controversy throughout a 13-year, 209-game, first-grade rugby league career, during which he represented Australia, NSW and Tonga.
The controversial figure finally retired from rugby league after he copped a 17-match ban for a 2005 tackle on Keith Galloway. That came after a 12-match ban in 2001 for poking opposition players up the backside.
Hopoate served a total of 45 weeks on the sidelines - an NRL record.
Following his rugby league career, he turned to professional boxing, and went on to be crowned the Australian heavyweight boxing champion.
