Once promising All Blacks star falls again while trying to overcome demons

His rugby career certainly had its highlights, but Zac Guildford’s off-the-pitch behaviour has long since overshadowed his electric ability on the wing.

In the latest episode, the 33-year-old has been convicted on serious fraud charges, after stealing more than $100,000 from family members and friends in two separate bouts of offending last year.

It’s just the latest in a long line of violent and now dishonesty offending for the former All Black.

Guildford first rose to national prominence on the back of his rugby talents.

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The winger exploded on to the scene in 2007 with provincial team Hawke’s Bay, then was snapped up by the Hurricanes. In just his second season, at the age of 20, he was selected for the All Blacks.

That year, Guildford played in the World Under-20 Rugby Championship final, scoring two tries in a 44-28 win over England.

But the victory was overshadowed when his father, Robert Guildford, died in the stands while watching the final.

Guildford was a member of the All Blacks squad that won the 2011 World Cup, but his career nosedived afterwards because of problems with alcohol and mental health.

In 2011, he was cited after a drunken assault in Rarotonga.

By 2014, New Zealand rugby wouldn’t renew Guildford’s contract due to repeated behaviour problems with alcohol, but he was handed a lifeline by French club Clermont Auvergne.

Guildford lost his contract to play with Clermont in 2015 for “personal reasons”.