On Sunday afternoon, All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith disappeared into a disabled toilet at Christchuch Airport for ‘5 to 10 minutes’ with a woman who was not his partner, Teagan Voykovich.
A couple of hours later, the New Zealand rugby team flew out to Durban for the final game of The Rugby Championship against South Africa.
https://twitter.com/A_Smith09/status/782550691273375745
Today, Smith is back in New Zealand and in the midst of a media storm. He has been dropped for the Springboks game but All Blacks coach, Steve Hansen says Smith requested that he could return home.
The furore was sparked when a member of the public contacted the NZRU and media to let them know about the incident. He told NZ Herald:
‘The pair were in the bathroom for 5-10 minutes and from the noises coming out of the bathroom, there was absolutely no question what the couple were doing in there…
‘I myself did not have a problem with this, my wife however is protesting that this is disgusting for a public figure to do.’
The fact that Smith was on duty with the international team and in his All Blacks-emblazoned casual wear has seen him breach the squad’s ‘standards of behaviour’. TJ Perenara will now start at No.9 against the Boks as the All Blacks seek their 17th consecutive Test win. Hansen commented:
“Clearly Aaron is bitterly disappointed in his behaviour and he feels he has let the team down but, just as importantly, he feels bitterly disappointed in letting his family and his partner down.”
Smith is disappointed, bitterly, and clearly so. Upon arriving back in the land of the long white cloud, Smith told reporters:
“I’ve made a huge mistake, a huge error in judgement. I’d firstly like to say a huge sorry to my partner Teagan, her family, my family.”
Voykovich, his partner, has called for privacy.
New Zealand is a rugby-obsessed country so it is no surprise to learn John Key, their Prime Minister, has weighed in with his opinion on the scandal.
Key says All Blacks players have been good role models ‘for the most part’ in recent years and Smith did not meet the high expectations placed upon him as a high-profile rugby star.
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