NZ Rugby has apologised for a social media post sent out by the All Blacks to mark International Women’s Day, after criticism for the inclusion of two players with problematic pasts.
The All Blacks Tweet was sent out to celebrate IWD but included images of Sevu Reece and Aaron Smith, two stars who with controversial pasts in their relationships with women.
Fans condemned the use of the pair. Reece admitted assaulting his partner while drunk on a street in 2018 – he was later discharged without conviction when a judge ruled there were mitigating factors in the case.
Smith was kicked out of All Blacks camp in 2016 after he was caught having sex at a toilet in Christchurch aiprot.
He married last year.
“‘Sevu Reece beat his girlfriend in the street, let’s use him on our International Women’s Day post. Oh, and make sure you don’t mention the Black Ferns at all’ – All Blacks social media team this morning.” wrote an All Blacks fan in response to the tweet.
“NZR and our Teams in Black celebrated International Women’s Day across all of our digital channels and our intent was to portray the many roles women have in our game,” an NZR spokesperson said in a statement to the NZ Herald..
“We didn’t get it right and we apologise – our entire rugby whānau are so proud of our Black Ferns and all our wāhine, in everything that they do on and off the pitch.”
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Eh? Suggesting, in response to an article about sports teams virtue-signalling, that they should concentrate on sports is ‘starting the conversation?’ Whereas, your nonsense about the sins of ‘white privilege’ on a RUGBY blog is somehow normal comment? Are you 12 years old? : :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Then you didn’t read the newspaper reports of the incident.
CUW
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
CUW
Roar Rookie
Obviosly this was an advert/message prepared for something else - hastily put out when some old suit heard there is a thing called international womens day !!! other explanation is some sheep are in the decision making positions - noone with any brains will choose to put pics of men on a day celebrating achievements of women. but then - usually most of these suits in admin boards are living in their own worlds - far away from reality of like :laughing:
CUW
Roar Rookie
His contract was rescinded despite the court verdict !!! Thats how he ended up at crusaders - and an injury to another wing.
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
Wonder who made this comment? I have never seen anywhere near this printed in any papers! Have you not made mistakes and learnt from them? I have never run down a fleeing woman and beat her bloody, that’s for sure. Seems to be a lot of adding on to anything there!
Wal
Roar Guru
YOU started the conversation :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
TC
Guest
NZR employee 1: "It's IWD, let's post an image of two AB men with problematic pasts with women". NZR employee 2: "That is genius, bro, I never thought of posting images of men for IWD"
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
It adds in no significant way - you know this, and your argument is not sincere or made in good faith. The fault lies at the feet of the professional social media manager who made the incident a matter of public discussion by tagging an abuser in a post about international womens day.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
Likewise, it's been a while!!
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
But it still adds to it, sorry you having a ball pretending you know what happened, and publicly declaring it is what happened.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
yes not defending the action at all. Reece was probably luckier in the sense it was illegal etc but he also seems to have pulled his head in and become very thankful for a second chance. Im a Chiefs supporter and was quite excited when we signed Reece but knew staright after the incident came to light he would be gone. And to see him go to the Saders was a double disapointment LOL.
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
Yeah to be fair we never found out why an affidavit was necessary, but I had assumed it was for an official purpose, otherwise why not just scrawl the lie on the back of a coaster? The affidavit idea may just have been the window dressing suggested by a dodgy organisation trying to protect its investment, which is a whole other problem, but I still maintain that Smith trying to get the woman to lie on any kind of official document just to save himself says a lot about his character.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Under Oath seems to be the wording but a rugby inquiry doesnt qualify. Stat dec etc counts for legal matters. If she lied to NZR the courts wont do anything about it but of course NZR might have punished Smith further.
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
I may need to be corrected on this, but I believe it also covers lying on a sworn affidavit.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Yes Roarers - no domestic violence to see here! Or anywhere!
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
Honesty creating controversy is at times unavoidable. Much easier for some to hide behind the veil of empty virtue :silly: If you ain't being controversial at times, you ain't being honest! :laughing:
piru
Roar Rookie
I thought this was from the All Blacks account, not the NZRU. Wouldn't it make sense that the All Blacks are thankful for the women in their lives, and the NZRU account post specifically about the Black Ferns? Regardless it clearly wasn't done with malicious intent, what benefit is served to this cause by constantly finding fault with people trying to do the right thing?
Tim J
Roar Rookie
No problems mate, I look forward to catching up soon. :thumbup:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Pinetree, I am here to be honest while creating controversy. :silly: