Several members of the All Blacks rugby team touring Britain were disciplined by fellow players after boarding a train from Cardiff to London during an all-night drinking session, a Sunday newspaper reported.
The Sunday Star-Times said team management would not identify the players nor say how many were involved but confirmed the group travelled halfway to London last weekend before turning back and arriving at the team’s hotel at breakfast time.
”We’re obviously disappointed,” coach Graham Henry told the New Zealand newspaper. He said a private disciplinary session had been held and the players had been punished, but he would not say what sanctions were imposed.
”Being an All Black is a huge honour and a great privilege, and with that comes enormous responsibility,” Henry said.
”We are trying to develop a culture in the team that develops individual responsibility and if they go out late and have a few drinks, they make the right decisions. From time to time they make the wrong ones, like they did on Saturday night obviously.”
Henry said the punishment had been determined by senior players and the incident had not affected selections for Saturday’s Test against Wales. He said if the incident was repeated it ”could become a selection issue”.
New Zealand beat Wales 41-3 on Saturday to take the first step towards a ”grand slam” over the four home unions. The All Blacks play Ireland next Saturday, then England and Scotland on successive weekends as they attempt to become the first New Zealand team since 1978 to beat all four during a single tour.
Henry said the players had been drinking in Cardiff and decided at closing time to board a train for the two-hour trip to London to continue partying. They turned back halfway and reached Cardiff’s Hilton Hotel in time for breakfast.
”Our biggest disappointment is that they got home so late,” Henry said.
”I don’t think they drank a huge amount but it’s disappointing because we are preparing for an important series.” – Sapa-AP