Another day, another faux pas for a New Zealand rugby team.
Highlanders’ CEO Roger Clarke has confirmed that some players on a flight home after Sunday’s loss to the Hurricanes travelled without masks, with allegations that they ignored requests from cabin attendants to do so.
The embarrassing mea culpa comes a day after New Zealand Rugby apologised for an International Women’s Day tweet from the All Blacks featuring two players – Aaron Smith and Sevu Reece – with controversial histories.
Clark said no players on the flight had tested positive for the virus so far but acknowledged the players’ behaviour was unacceptable.
“We’ve received the allegations and we’re taking them very seriously,” Clark was reported as saying by the Otago Daily Times.
“We’ve got very strict Covid protocols and we’re trying our best to keep it out of our team, let alone out of our community.
“It’s pretty disappointing that anybody wasn’t wearing a mask on the plane.
“I was on the plane as well, so I did see a couple of guys that weren’t wearing them.
“That’s something we’ve addressed and are addressing.”
A person on the flight told the Otago Daily Times that players were walking around the plane without wearing masks and some were continually asked to put their masks on, but ignored the cabin crew.
One player was said to have walked on the plane without a mask and ignored requests to put one on.
Players were also scattered around the plane and some not wearing masks were seated next to members of the public.
Highlanders captain Smith was said to have worn his mask throughout the whole flight.
The Highlanders on Wednesday said there were “a few cases” of Covid-19 in the group, although declined to offer details around who had contracted the virus.
Sam Gilbert and Fetuli Paea were left out of the matchday 23 after having started each of the first three games.
TRhing-me
Roar Rookie
And I used to think New Zealanders were supposed to have an intelligence quota higher than the average wombat.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Ken, I will not be a selector but more of a motivational speaker. :stoked:
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Mad, if you think I could be a starter for the Tahs, I am not going to let you near a selector gig. To paraphrase Groucho - I wouldn’t want to be part of any team that would select me in it.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Jacko, if loving you is wong, I don’t wanna be white.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
The protocols ONLINE include that information. The stat plan available ONLINE includes it too. The exposed AE event rate is a complex calculation under the best of times. The way it is reported varies by sponsor and study type. Read the protocols and they explain how this is done.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Have you read the Pfizer documents recently released Carlos? Genuinely interested in your take on them. They raise questions while offering answers. For instance, can you point to the logic as to why vx receipt numbers needed to be redacted? And therefore remove the possibility of a vx to AE rate?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
I hope it’s not that conspiratorial Adam. I have had a few comments wiped on this one. Unfortunately flaky ‘inoffensive’ misinformation from ‘official’ sources is less controversial, therefore allowable. The battle for ‘truth’ is like a big rock in a fast river. If it’s any good at all, it changes the river. Most canoeists here just want to float downstream to a rugby game, without drama. A river of assumption is much more comfortable than a rock of truth.
aussikiwi
Guest
If you think that masks do not generally reduce transmission then you are living in an alternative (fact free) universe. If you have a genuinely open mind the evidence is all there for you with a bit of rudimentary research. Do it yourself.
adam smith
Roar Rookie
Hey KCOL, I see you replied to my earlier message to MadKiwi…problem is the editors have removed my post & your response…don’t think they like actual facts from the American FDA?!?!
Paulo
Roar Rookie
“So you believe Masks and Jabs are not designed to stop covid in any way and that the reaction you got is all around your personal situation.” No. What you have said here, is not what I said. Masks and Jabs are designed to slow the spread and reduce the risks of infection and the severity of symptoms if you do get it. I have said this clearly and concisely a number of times. The fact you have picked the first line and ignored the rest of my post shows your true motives. You just want a fight. I don’t know why I keep bothering to reply and feeding your ego. I’m gonna pop you on ‘ignore now’.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Wow, that’s not what I said at all. haha copied from your post.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Wow, that’s not what I said at all. If you had bothered to find out more, instead of trying to pick a fight constantly, you could have found out I got it in a maskless environment. The masked environment I work in, which has had numerous people infectious, has had no infections occur in the work place. This is why I say anecdotally, masks have worked. You were ignorant of how I got it. You were arrogant in your assumptions that I was wrong and had said what I demonstrably had not said, and refused to back down when that was pointed out. I even said you knew little of my situation. This is the typical agnorant posturing that I referenced earlier. You didn’t have all the facts, but we’re still aggressively and arrogantly trying to push your point as the one and only truth.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
You to buddy, there some good games. :thumbup:
Rhys
Roar Rookie
Enjoy the footy this weekend mate
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Yes he is not the sharpest tool Rhys. :silly:
Rhys
Roar Rookie
Ignorant enough to forget to replace the n with an m in his monniker lol
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Masks and the jabs have actually done exactly what they are meant to do. If you can conclude they haven’t worked, from what little you know about my situation, So you believe Masks and Jabs are not designed to stop covid in any way and that the reaction you got is all around your personal situation. You said it... Didnt you mean it?
wigeye
Guest
jacko , he's been doing it all day
Paulo
Roar Rookie
What kind of mental gymnastics does it take to turn… “Masks and the jabs have actually done exactly what they are meant to do.” Into… “So your situation changes the way that Vaccines and masks work?” That’s impressive. Enjoy the rugby. Go the Crusaders! :silly:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Exactly Carlos, things change daily. Australia have a new variant BA2. The World scientists are still learning on the go, the Covid keeps morphing into new strains.