The Monday Column

The British would place captured German generals in stately mansions, then serve them wine and fancy food until they started talking.

smash the Ranfurly Shield? Could the Ruskies be bugging Canterbury Rugby as we speak? Better to be safe than sorry.

During the Cold War, the CIA hit back against Russian bugging ingenuity with a $20 million programme called Operation Kitty.

US technicians surgically and painlessly implanted listening devices into a cute little cat and sent him out to befriend Russian officials.

They believed a fluffy “bugged” cat would be able to go where no human could and maybe even get a cuddle from an enemy agent.

Unfortunately on its first mission, before meeting any Russians, the cat was run over crossing a road. Tragically he died and with him Operation Kitty. A massive setback for The Central Intelligence Agency at the time.

Lesson for New Zealand Rugby: no pets on tour.

During World War II the British would place captured German generals in stately mansions, then serve them wine and fancy food until they started talking.

The Nazis loved it. They’d drink for days gossiping about how stupid the British were. Some even wrote to friends saying how much fun they were having and how great it was to be in an English prison.

Of course the British had bugged the entire place and recorded hundreds of hours of valuable German military secrets, helping the Allied effort immensely.

The lesson? Touring All Blacks should stay away from all free accommodation, food, drinks, clothes, shoes and other luxuries. If it’s free it’s more than likely a trap.

The history of bugging is exciting but covert surveillance is set to become even more so in coming years. Soon there will be tiny flying insect-shaped drones with microphones. Bug bugs crawling under doors, flying through open windows, hovering overhead during team meetings.

How easy would it be to send one of these tech insects into a changing shed, conference centre or bedroom? Listening to players chatting on the bus or in the showers will be as easy as driving a remote control car.

Which is scary or exciting depending on your point of view.

In 2017 we already have great bugging devices in all of our pockets. The smartphone. If you’re interested in amateur surveillance try the old