Vunivalu faces court on assault charge

Queensland Reds rugby star Suliasi Vunivalu has briefly faced court after allegedly assaulting a security guard at a Brisbane pub.

The 25-year-old was charged with common assault over the January 30 incident and appeared for about five minutes before Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.

At the time the Reds said Vunivalu allegedly pushed a security guard, but a Queensland Police spokesperson told AAP it will be alleged an intoxicated Vunivalu "struck the victim in the face".

Vunivalu is on bail and the case is due back before the court on May 10.

The former Melbourne Storm winger starred in his side's NRL grand final victory in October, after spending almost six months away from his family in the club's Sunshine Coast COVID-19 bubble.

But it hasn't been a smooth transition to the Queensland Reds with Vunivalu missing three of his side's seven wins this Super Rugby AU season, first because of suspension then due to a hamstring injury.