Noisy nudity at Chiefs hotel
Hours after the Chiefs’ loss in the Super Rugby Aotearoa final, a post-match function is alleged to have ended with players or supporters found naked in hotel corridors, keeping guests awake and leaving a trail of broken bottles and vomit for staff to clean up.
The Chiefs were defeated 24-13 by the Crusaders at Christchurch’s Orangetheory Stadium on Saturday night, their fairytale run to the final ending in crushing disappointment.
But guests at the city’s Novotel hotel in Cathedral Sq were reportedly kept up all night as the team drowned their sorrows at an event for players, staff and their families. One guest alleged players and supporters were “absolutely wasted” and banging on walls.
The club’s management said they were “confident our people were not involved”, but were taking the allegations “extremely seriously” and were investigating.
A woman staying at the Novotel with her family said she complained to hotel staff twice after players and supporters returned at about 2.30am, apparently very drunk.
“We haven’t had any sleep since 4 o’clock this morning, even before that. It’s just a bit pathetic really,” the woman told The Press.
The woman, who asked not to be named, said she found revellers on her floor, the 12th – despite the team not staying on that floor – and alleged they kept her awake as they gathered in the hallways, banging on doors and talking “really loudly”.
She also claimed some were so drunk they were unable to stand up.
The woman said she called staff to complain about the noise at 4am and again at about 4.20am – and was told by apologetic hotel workers that two extra staff had been brought in to deal with the mayhem.
The noise eventually subsided at about 4.30am.
A Novotel staff member said there had been at least four complaints from different rooms.
Revellers were allegedly “all over the floor” of corridors, and hotel management had to speak to the team manager to help settle the group, some of whom were naked.
The staff member claimed some people were vaping inside, and said hotel workers had to clean up broken bottles and vomit.
The Novotel’s general manager eventually had to go into work yesterday and speak to the Chiefs management, the staff member added.
The female guest said the behaviour was inconsiderate, and that her family had been left annoyed and tired.
The woman, herself a Chiefs fan but who was not in Christchurch for the game, was disappointed at what she said was a ‘‘lack of professionalism’’.
While she said she understood the team were out following the end of the season, she felt, as a fan, the club should ‘‘pull its act together’’.
‘‘There is still work to be done on the culture and the rugby culture in general.
‘‘Get your own bloody book
a-bach and do it there.’’
When approached by The Press, Novotel general manager Bradley Conder said it was unclear who was making the noise, and that broken glass in the conference room and outside was not unusual.
He also said there was not any ‘‘significant’’ noise, and declined to comment further.
Chiefs chief executive Michael Collins initially declined to comment after the team landed in Hamilton yesterday afternoon.
But in a statement later, he said: ‘‘The Gallagher Chiefs held a private function following the Super Rugby Aotearoa final with board, staff, players and families at the hotel the team were staying at.
‘‘Stuff have informed us of several allegations involving our people. We have since inquired about these allegations and are confident our people were not involved.
‘‘However, we are taking this extremely seriously and will continue to look into it.’’
Approached at the airport, Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan said he was ‘‘totally unaware’’ of any misbehaviour at the hotel.
‘‘We had a private function last night and everyone was on the bus this morning, that’s all I know.’’
Culture at the Chiefs came under the spotlight five years ago when a stripper at the team’s endof-season celebrations alleged she was touched inappropriately.