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Aaron Smith has stood down from Wallabies test
Aaron Smith has stood down from Saturday's Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies at Eden Park in Auckland as the fallout from the disabled toilet incident in Christchurch continues.
New Zealand Rugby on Monday conducted a disciplinary meeting with the All Blacks halfback, it announced.
The misconduct proceedings followed revelations of an incident at Christchurch Airport on September 18, after the All Blacks' test win against South Africa the night before.
The All Blacks star was seen entering a disabled toilet with a female. He was sent home from South Africa by the All Blacks touring party after the team learned of the incident earlier this month.
The disciplinary matter was heard over two hours by a panel chaired by New Zealand Rugby General Manager Rugby Neil Sorensen.
"It's important to note that as an employment matter, it is not usual to comment publicly on proceedings. However, both Aaron and his legal representative, and New Zealand Rugby acknowledge that in the circumstances, there is a need to make some public comment," Sorensen said.
NZR said in a statement that "in light of the impact on the reputation of All Blacks jersey, and the commercial partners, Aaron's actions amounted to serious misconduct".
Smith will be issued with a formal warning and he has voluntarily stood down from assembling with the All Blacks for Saturday's test in Auckland.
He will forfeit his selection fees.
The NZR statement said Smith is "committed to getting the support he needs to deal with personal issues and to work on his relationship with his partner".
"Aaron presented himself as genuine, honest and incredibly remorseful. We have also taken into account the fact that the very public nature of this incident, has had a significant impact on him personally.
"We accepted that he is genuine about wanting to improve himself and note that he himself has acknowledged he will need the support of his family, friends and Rugby to move forward.
"We also noted that Aaron had already made a very public apology to his partner, friends and family, team mates, his employer, and rugby fans and he had already served a one-week stand down."
According to the statement, both parties have agreed that no further comment will be made on the incident.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/a...wallabies-test
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
Stood Himself down? Is that appropriate? would it have been better for the union to "Stand him Down" and "Seize his selection fees"?
TBH I'm not sure where I really stand on this one, I guess somewhere between not kicking a man when he's down and NZRU making the appointment of a standards committee actually worth something.
C'mon the![]()
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So to compare scrum halves .... hypothetically would Phipps have knocked a steward out of the way to get the toilet, then thrown her shoe across the concourse afterwards ... ?
Only if the steward tried to grab his balls![]()
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
Is the time on the front page correct? NZ are now under Daylight Savings so that makes the time difference 5 hours and the All Blacks website says that kick off is at 7:35pm so that would be 2:35pm Perth time?
And then you can finish yourself off by getting Chasing Great [Richie McCaw movie]on Foxtel's Main Event Channel 521 straight after although I reckon most Wallaby supporters will have seen enough of black jerseys earlier on in the day to last them for a while.
Wests Scarborough 1st Grade juggernaut has played finals rugby each and every year since its inception and continues this remarkable feat yet again this season and unbelievably it's still rolling on and as an added little circle jerk for the masses Wests actually hold the record for the current longest unbroken finals record.
ALL BLACKS TEAM
1. Joe Moody
2. Dane Coles
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Samuel Whitelock
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Matt Todd
8. Kieran Read
9. TJ Perenara
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Julian Savea
12. Ryan Crotty
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
14. Israel Dagg
15. Ben Smith
RESERVES
16. Codie Taylor
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Charlie Faumuina
19. Liam Squire
20. Ardie Savea
21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
22. Aaron Cruden
23. Malakai Fekitoa
http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2016/10...eden-park-team
weak in the centres, we can unleash Foley
The long sobs of autumn's violins wound my heart with a monotonous languor
Matt Todd is the weak link, expect Hooper to dominate the battle of the breakdown![]()
C'mon the![]()
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Wallabies @ $10, get on![]()
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!