Rugby star Lesley Vainikolo is to face a retrial after a jury yesterday failed to reach a verdict in his GBH trial.

The jury sitting on the trial of the England star – who is accused of fracturing a fan's skull on a players' night out – was discharged after failing to reach a verdict.

Vainikolo, 30, punched Jake Alicker once to the head a short distance from the Second Bridge nightclub in Bath in the early hours of October 26 last year, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Mr Alicker, 25, was taken to hospital and treated for a fractured skull, but told the court he had no recollection of the incident.

Gloucester RFC player Vainikolo, (nicknamed the Volcano), was subsequently charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm (GBH), to which he previously pleaded not guilty. Vainikolo, who lives in Cheltenham, accepted he threw the punch.

He claimed he acted in self-defence, protecting himself following aggressive taunts from Mr Alicker.

But after deliberating for four hours and 26 minutes, the 11-person jury told the court that with more time it would not reach a majority verdict, and was subsequently discharged by Judge Mark Horton.

Prosecutor William Hunter indicated that the Crown Prosecution Service would seek a retrial.

Judge Horton said this was likely to be fixed for the first week of January.

Father-of-one Vainikolo, who has been supported in court by his wife Sienna throughout the trial, was out of action most of last season after undergoing surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon.

But he told the court he was now match-fit and ready for selection.

The former Bradford Bulls Rugby League player won five England caps after becoming eligible through his residency in the UK.