An assembly for the repair of a hernia. The assembly includes an elongated shaft having a first end； a first holding member at least mostly positionable in the elongated shaft and a second holding member positionable in the elongated shaft； a coupler assembly having (i) a coupler for coupling the first holding member to the second holding member and (ii) a locking arrangement； a deployment assembly for deploying at least one of the first and second holding members out of the elongated shaft； a restrainer for restraining a portion of the coupler prior to the deployment of the second holding member out of the first end of the elongated shaft； wherein the coupler can be tensioned so as to pull the first holding member and the second holding member towards each other and the locking arrangement is lockable about the coupler. Methods of repairing a hernia by closing a hole in the fascial layer of an abdominal wall are also disclosed.
