The former All Black Byron Kelleher is to appear in court in France charged with domestic violence according to French newspaper Le Parisien.

The newspaper says Kelleher's former partner alleges the violence goes back several years after the couple had a son in 2015.

They met in 2010 while Kelleher was playing in Toulouse.

Le Parisien reports Kelleher's former partner says he became "became verbally and physically violent".

Kelleher then returned to live in New Zealand but in February 2022 Kelleher and his son reconnected, leading to Kelleher returning to France and France and resuming his relationship with the woman.

"About a month after his return to France, Mr Kelleher's violence resumed," the victim said in a statement.

"He regularly consumes alcohol and in large quantities. For no valid reason, he repeatedly insults me, pushes me, pins me against the wall, punches me and strangles me."

Kelleher, who played 57 tests for the All Blacks between 1999-2007, denies the allegations, claiming there had been "no violence" and that he had "not touched her".

This story was originally published by RNZ