All Blacks flanker Jerome Kaino has flown home from Sydney to deal with a personal matter, New Zealand Rugby says.
Australian media reports of an extra-marital affair have triggered the return of the 81-Test veteran ahead of the first Bledisloe Cup Test on Saturday.
Kaino had not been selected in the All Blacks match-day squad, coach Steve Hansen opting instead for nine-Test Liam Squire to start as blindside flanker.
An NZR statement on Saturday confirmed that Kaino had returned “to deal with a personal matter following the publication of a story in the Australian media this morning”.
The news comes just days after NZR re-opened its investigation into All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith’s airport “toilet tryst” scandal.
The incident with a woman at Christchurch airport resulted in Smith being sent home from last year’s tour of South Africa and subsequently suspended.
An NZR statement on Thursday said an independent lawyer would investigate the matter further, after reports Smith may have misled his All Blacks bosses over the incident.
Chief executive Steve Tew said on Saturday that information concerning Smith published in New Zealand media was also a new development.
“NZR cannot comment at this stage on what are both personal matters, but we feel for all of those affected,” he said in a statement.
“We certainly understand that our game and our players are under public scrutiny and these latest stories are concerning.”
NZR would not comment on individual behaviour, Tew said.
“But it is clear that this is really hurting rugby, all the people concerned, our fans and supporters,” he said.
The review is being presented to the NZR board this month, and Tew said the organisation was looking to make it public sometime in September.
taylorman
Guest
Why do you think we have laws? Because people dont break them?
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Personally I couldn't give a rats about what 2 consenting adults get upto in their private lives. Feel sorry for Mrs K but in reality it's a private issue that's got nothing to do with the AB's
ToBeRugby
Guest
No that is so true... hilarious! Still I don't think having great team culture is some sort of claim to sexual and angelic purity.
cuw
Guest
" Elite sportsmen have always had and will always have plenty of temptations, it’s inevitable that some succumb,.." RUBBISH ! everyone on this planet has temptations. then it is about who is tempted and who looks away. then it becomes who is worth a column in a news paper and who is not. noone is going to report what i did in dubai LOL. this is the present culture in the whatsapp and Instagram world. hell, Bill Clinton did it and the free world did not crumble .... :)
George Maharris
Guest
though shalt not get caught!
Ben
Guest
Neither do the ABs... Who cares anyway...there wouldnt be a pro sports team or workplace anywhere where that hasnt happened... Twas..whats his private life got to do with team culture anyway? Or does does your marital affairs get discussed at your workplace meetings to see how its affecting business? Ha..you were one of the loudest trumpeting disgust at nz rugby and the media having a go at your wallaroos..but this sort of reporting is fine is it? Just glad it didnt affect the culture of smashing your boys on the field...
Train Without A Station
Guest
But the wallabies don't claim to be the epitome of team culture...
timber
Guest
I think it's a case of more incidents being brought to the public's attention rather than an actual increase in bad behaviour. Elite sportsmen have always had and will always have plenty of temptations, it's inevitable that some succumb, it's just that their private lives were previously considered off bounds to a greater degree. Given the timing, the Australian media are clearly on a deliberate campaign of payback and disruption.
Wardad
Guest
One was last years news and the other is between Kaino ,his missus and the other woman. Or is he the only person to ever stray the marital path ?
Dave
Guest
Never said he was injured, rested and giving Squire a game. Kaino being saved for the real opposition in the RC, the Boks
Dave
Guest
Sanctimonious. I am sure when the Kiwi media start digging into the private lives of the Wobblies prior to the Dunedin test we will see the dirt come out on the their players- assuming our media sink to the same lows, which wouldn't be a surprise.
Fin
Guest
Lots of these incidents starting to surface around the All Blacks. Not exactly time to say things are falling apart but the culture that was there under Henry seems to have dropped off.
Slat
Guest
Ha, Australian media digging dirt as pay back for last years defeat and spy gate! A persons private life is just that, private, the Aust media are as dirty as they get. It will have little effect on the game.
Brizvegas
Guest
Ha good to find out why he wasn't selected.Not injured etc