A WALES rugby star fined for assaulting his beauty-queen ex-girffriend donned a Spider-Man scrum cap, apparently supporting a fathers' rights group, during a televised match on Sunday.

Newport Gwent Dragons player Ian Gough, 37, was seen wearing the superhero headgear, seemingly in support of New Fathers 4 Justice, during the Pro 12 away game against Scariets.

The Panteg-born player was fined in August for attacking Sophia Cahill, a former Miss Wales, as he dropped off their two-year-old son Gabriel at her house in Croydon, South London.

The sport's governing body, the Welsh Rugby Union, said it was not aware of any breach of regulation regarding the use of playing equipment during the match.

The Argus contacted Newport Gwent Dragons but neither Gough nor the club provided a comment.

New Fathers 4 Justice claimed Gough had worn the Spider-Man strum cap in support of the group.

The group said it uses direct action and protests to highlight the injustice fathers face.

In August, Gough was fined £1,050 and ordered to pay a £105 victim surcharge, a £775 contribution to prosecution costs, and £200 in compensation to Miss Cahill.

Miss Cahill said that her former partner had got her by the shoulder and shoved her into the door of his van.

He was found guilty of assault by beating but said at the time of the hearing that he was appealing his conviction.

New Fathers 4 Justice said it is not affiliated with Fathers 4 Justice UK or its founder Matt O'Connor.