Police in Timaru are investigating an attack outside a nightclub on Saturday night involving a rugby player from the East Coast.
A police spokesperson says the player, Ben Parkes, has a severely injured mouth and has been transferred from Timaru to Christchurch hospital where surgery is being carried out.
The spokesperson says the police have obtained security camera footage of the assault and are trying to identify an attacker.
Mr Parkes was in Timaru on Saturday night following a rugby game between his East Coast team and South Canterbury.
Police say there was a large crowd near the nightclub at the time of the attack and want to talk to anyone who witnessed it.
