Aaron Smith in the poo?

[Mikey Brown]

I thought this was a genuine apology at first http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/8526 ... ll-apology turns out that it's just because everyone, shockingly, now hates them. Ah well.

[rowan]

"In the Land of the Long White Cloud, heroes are clad in black. New Zealand are the world's rugby champions and the all-conquering All Blacks are idolised. But these are dark times for New Zealand's national sport, that has become mired in scandal. Reports on Wednesday say a member of the Mid Canterbury rugby team has been charged with assault with intent to commit rape in Gisborne, a North Island city, earlier this month. It follows revelations that star scrum-half Aaron Smith was seen entering a toilet cubicle with a woman at Christchurch Airport. He was dropped from the squad that went on to thrash South Africa 57-15 in Durban. " - BBC

[Mikey Brown]

Aye. Read that too. Just throw his name in there with a potential rape case, no big deal. Classy stuff, BBC.

[Spy]

Interesting that this story also resurfaces in the week of the Bledisloe opener. Smith's quite the root rat, it would seem.

Bad news for Smith and for NZ rugby. His form fell to pieces after he got caught with his fingers in the fanny box last year. Some people can shrug off that sort of thing, others really take it to heart and don't cope well. Smith seems to be one of the latter.

[rowan]

"In the Land of the Long White Cloud, heroes are clad in black. New Zealand are the world's rugby champions and the all-conquering All Blacks are idolised. But these are dark times for New Zealand's national sport, that has become mired in scandal. Reports on Wednesday say a member of the Mid Canterbury rugby team has been charged with assault with intent to commit rape in Gisborne, a North Island city, earlier this month. It follows revelations that star scrum-half Aaron Smith was seen entering a toilet cubicle with a woman at Christchurch Airport. He was dropped from the squad that went on to thrash South Africa 57-15 in Durban. " - BBC

Did anything ever come of that?

[Spy]

In further scandal, Australian media have published a story about Jerome Kaino having an affair. How coincidental that they broke it on match day.

I guess this sort of thing goes with being a public figure, but it's hard for me to see publication of this story as being in the public interest.

[rowan]

NZRFU reacts to recent scandals:

New Zealand Rugby's affiliate bodies have voted 84-8 in favour of constitutional changes which will promote diversity.

The changes will see a new make-up of the New Zealand Rugby board, with the number of appointed members rising from three to six.

Three members of the board will be appointed by the Appointments and Remuneration Committee, with a view towards appointing people with a more diverse set of skills in life and business.

At least one woman will be part of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee from now on

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/pro ... -diversity

Female quota looks a good move