- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
A listening device similar to that used by law enforcement to track the activities of suspects of law enforcement has been found in team room of the All Blacks.
Apparently discovered on Monday, news of the alleged bugging has broken on match day, with details emerging of an intricate effort to insert a device into the room where the All Blacks discuss their game plan and match strategy.
It’s not yet clear how long the device had been in the chair, but all indications at this stage are that it was operational.
The device was found in a chair in the team meeting room at the InterContinental in Double Bay, where the foam had been ‘carefully cut’, the device inserted, and the seat sewn or glued back together to be ‘almost undetectable’.
New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Tew has confirmed the finding to the New Zealand Herald, saying that “A listening device was found in a meeting room this week during a routine security check.”
He told the paper that “The hotel immediately launched an investigation, we have informed the Australian Rugby Union, and jointly we have now decided to hand over the investigation to the Australian police.”
“We are taking this issue very seriously, and given it will be a police matter, it would not be prudent to go into further details.”
Australian Rugby Union boss Bill Pulver spoke to the New Zealand Herald, who broke the story.
“Look, I have literally just seen a note from Steve Tew telling me about this and a brief statement they [New Zealand Rugby] are about to put out which confirms that they found a listening device and the two unions have agreed to hand the matter over to the police.”
Pulver categorically denied that Australian Rugby had anything to do with the incident.
“Mate, of course. It is completely ludicrous.
“I just think it’s a ludicrous concept that there are listening devices being placed in team rooms. I don’t know how that could happen.”
“I’m utterly disappointed the story would break on match day and frankly, that’s all I’ve got to say. We are going to focus on a game of rugby that we’ve got tonight and we will deal with this matter after the rugby.
“I simply don’t know the background but I’m clearly disappointed it gets out to the media on the day of a Bledisloe Cup match.”
A police investigation, as well as an independent hotel investigation have both been launched in response to the incident.
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on the part of any of the parties mentioned in this report.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.