Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
All Black feels blue after bathroom romp leaves him sitting on the bench
LONDON: All Blacks star Aaron Smith has offered a tearful apology after a couple heard him having sex in a disabled bathroom with a female friend.
Smith has been suspended by the All Blacks for today’s Test in South Africa and has flown home to New Zealand.
“I’ve made a huge mistake, a huge error in judgment,” a visibly shaken Smith said. “I’d personally like to say a huge sorry to my partner Teagan, her family, my family... also sorry to my teammates and the New Zealand fans. I’m just trying to get home to deal with this. Thank you.”
The couple told stuff.co.nz they heard “rhythmic tapping noises” coming from a cubicle in Christchurch airport as they stood outside after seeing him and the woman entering within 30 seconds of each other.
They said the pair were inside the bathroom for about 10 minutes before Smith emerged adjusting his clothing and the woman followed about 30 seconds later.
The couple also caught Smith and the woman on camera after they carried out their bathroom rendezvous, which happened last month.
The All Blacks star, who was wearing his team suit, rejoined his team and met fans who had gathered around the players.
Smith, 27, is dating 22-yearold Teagan Voykovich and the couple said the woman seen with him at the airport was not his girlfriend.
In 2012, Smith was benched for a Test in Dunedin for breaking a team curfew and two years later a naked selfie of him was posted online.
New Zealand prime minister John Key has weighed in on the bathroom tryst and said Smith’s actions were not what society expected of a role model. “I suspect he’ll be sitting back, reflecting on the fact he’s let himself down, he’s let the team down. He’s an integral part of the All Blacks so he won’t want to be sitting on the sidelines and, frankly, he’s embarrassed himself a bit.”
“They do a lot to try and prove to young New Zealanders that they’re the sort of people to look up to – that’s why I think Aaron will feel pretty disappointed in himself.”
Smith has since been suspended for one Test after “breaching team standards regarding behaviour”, New Zealand coach Steven Hansen said.
Hansen confirmed the 27- year- old scrum- half had been seen entering a toilet cubicle with a female friend at Christchurch Airport the day after New Zealand’s 41-13 win over South Africa at the AMI Stadium. As a result Smith has not been considered for selection for Rugby Championship Test in Durban.
“As a result of that the leadership group met and were unanimous in the fact that behaviour wasn’t acceptable and as a consequence a one-match suspension would be put in place.
“Clearly Aaron is bitterly disappointed with his behaviour and feels he has let the team down, but just as importantly feels he is bitterly disappointed in letting his family and partner down.
“At his request he has asked to go home to deal with the personal matters that have come with this incident and we have been only too happy to support him in that.” – Daily Mail