Chiefs' and former All Black number eight Sione Lauaki has been formally charged with assault after an incident in a Hamilton bar last Friday.

The Tongan-born 28-year-old was serving a suspension from the Super 14 competition for a dangerous tackle at the time of the alleged assault.

Hours after the incident the Chiefs' CEO Garry Dawson issued a statement acknowledging that Lauaki had been involved in an incident, and Hamilton police confirmed they were investigating a complaint regarding a 28-year-old man in a central city bar.

The Chiefs issued a statement on Wednesday saying that "the outcome of last week?s incident investigated by police has resulted in a charge of assault being laid today [Wednesday]".

The Chiefs said that neither they nor Lauaki would be making any comment until after the matter had been through the court process.

The Chiefs' statement confirmed that Lauaki would also be taking part in New Zealand Rugby Union and Chiefs' disciplinary processes.

With regard to his non-selection of Lauaki for the Chiefs' game against the Crusaders in Hamilton this weekend, coach Ian Foster said: "Sione and I have decided that in light of the week that he has had, that the right thing to do is not play him in this game. We will fully support Sione over the next few weeks."

Lauaki, who played 17 Tests for the All Blacks between 2005-2008, is not new to problems off the field.

In February, 2006 he was offered police diversion after admitting assaulting a Hamilton security officer and he later punched a rival player in an incident outside a bar.

Early last year he was again before the courts charged with trashing property at an Auckland motel after a late-night incident also involving a female companion. He took an anger management course after the motel incident.