New Zealand Rugby CEO Admits All Blacks Culture Tarnished By Scandals

The All Blacks dominated Australia in the first match of the Bledisloe Cup which took place on August 19 at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Australia. The All Blacks were fielding a number of new players and many expected the Wallabies to have a good chance to win the first match. New Zealand dominated from the start and played some of the best rugby in the opening half that rugby union fans have witnessed all season.

The All Blacks had a 54-6 lead in the first 50 minutes and looked like mauling the Wallabies but then allowed Australia to get back into the game with four quick tries. The All Blacks won convincingly with a 54-34 scoreline but their win was overshadowed by off-field controversies that have tarnished the image and culture of the mighty All Blacks.

Australia media reported that Aaron Smith had a wild time in Christchurch in 2016 with a lawyer from New Zealand. Smith was quick to state that it was a one-off incident and he apologized to his partner for the same. However reports emerged that Smith had been involved with the lawyer for over 2 years and had approached her to sign a document denying the fact that they had a tryst in a Christchurch airport toilet.

Rugby.com.au

The Daily Telegraph in Australia also broke news that flanker Jerome Kaino was involved in an extra-marital affair with a former model who did not know at the time that Kaino was married. The All Blacks star has three children with wife Diana who posted on Facebook that she was ‘devastated’ to learn of the affair and see it splashed all over the media. Kaino was in Sydney as part of the All Blacks squad was forced to leave and return to New Zealand to attend to personal issues.

Steve Tew, the chief executive of New Zealand Rugby (NZR) admitted that the scandalous reports in the media did not help NZR and has promised to look into these incidents. In a statement, Tew said

As an employer, we will take some time to assess this. While NZR does not wish to comment on individual behaviour, it is clear that this is really hurting rugby, all the people concerned, our fans and supporters. We take these issues very seriously, and are also mindful that these issues affect people with families and loved ones