Former Connacht and Chiefs captain Craig Clark was the victim of a bizarre kidnapping after stopping to help two men a court in New Zealand has heard.

The towering lock signed for the western province in 2013, after captaining the Chiefs to the Super Rugby title, but his career was tragically cut short due to a number of concussion related injuries.

Clark reportedly pulled over to the side of the road in South Taranaki to aid two men who were frantically waving at him. Little did he know that the duo had just robbed an antique shop.

The burglars forced him to drive to a nearby town after pulling a weapon on him and pressing it to his neck. They then made their escape before later being captured by the local police force.