UPPER WEST SIDE — A drunken professional rugby player stalked two women and screamed, “This is the night you die!” before being tackled by police, the NYPD said.
Matthew Lodge, 20, who played for the Wests Tigers in Australia, chased the women into a building on West End Avenue, near 76th Street, Friday about 4:40 a.m., police sources said.
He later locked himself inside the apartment of another man who had gone into the hallway to see what the ruckus was about. Once inside, Lodge began punching the man in the head, causing swelling and bruising, police and prosecutors said.
Lodge was arrested and later charged with assault and burglary, prosecutors said.
He was ordered held on $20,000 bail at his arraignment Saturday.
The Tigers terminated his contract following the incident, the team announced on its website.
“The Club is incredibly disappointed to learn that Matthew Lodge has been charged by police while overseas on holiday,” Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe said in a statement.
“This type of behavior does not fit with the culture we are building at the Club, nor is it to the behavioral standards that we accept.”
The team said it plans to offer Lodge welfare and counseling options going forward.
Lodge is next due in court on Wednesday.
