FORMER professional rugby league player Anthony Watts will spend Christmas behind bars after he was denied bail.

Watts, 30, made a brief appearance via video-link on Monday at Tweed Heads Local Court on several charges, including common assault and dangerous driving. The former NRL player and ex-bikie is accused of assaulting an elderly man in the northern NSW town of Murwillumbah on Thursday.

Police allege Watts waved a gun and assaulted 73-year-old William Ernest Woodford outside a business before driving off.

Watts then allegedly failed to stop when his car was spotted on Tweed Valley Way about two hours after the alleged assault.

The former North Queensland and Sydney Roosters player was arrested after a short pursuit by police.

Watts’ lawyer Andrew Moloney told the court he was yet to speak to his client and needed more time to take instructions.

Watts was refused bail and the matter has been adjourned until January 9.

The Daily Telegraph reports Watts began his NRL career at the Sharks in 2007 where he played five games before joining the Cowboys in 2008.

He played 45 games for the Townsville-based club before signing a three-year deal with the Roosters.

But Watts was allegedly involved in an incident while out with teammate Todd Carney and the pair were suspended indefinitely.

Watts never played a game for the Roosters and eventually headed to England to play for Widnes.

Injury meant he only played one game for the club and despite signing an extension for another season, he headed back to Australia for personal reasons.

He then changed his focus to boxing.

Things were looking good when he won his first fight in under a minute, but when he came up against Sharks captain Paul Gallen in December 2014, things didn’t go his way.

Half way into the opening round Watts’ shoulder popped out and the fight was stopped with Gallen the TKO winner.