Smith toilet tryst inquiry
New Zealand Rugby has instructed an independent lawyer to re-open the investigation into the Aaron Smith toilet tryst.
While the All Blacks yesterday said they believe they dealt with the Aaron Smith ‘‘toilet tryst’’ last year and it was essentially business as usual for them and Smith, NZR feels they need to investigate the matter further.
In a statement to Stuff, NZR said: ‘‘Based on information published today New Zealand Rugby believes that it needs to investigate the Aaron Smith matter further and has instructed an independent lawyer to do so.
‘‘Until those inquiries are complete we will not be making any further statements to the media. It is effectively an employment issue that requires investigation.’’
Earlier, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen fronted media in Sydney and essentially said it was business as usual for the star halfback ahead of tomorrow night’s Bledisloe Cup test against Australia in Sydney.
The incident had been thrust back into the public domain with the woman involved telling media she would be taking legal action in an attempt to protect her reputation.
The woman reportedly said her lawyers sent a letter to NZR boss Steve Tew, Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark and Smith’s agent Warren Alcock last week asking for Smith to make a public statement about what actually happened, but had yet to receive a reply, according to The Daily Mail.
‘‘Obviously the incident happened last year. We dealt with and we felt dealt with it decisively,’’ All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said in Sydney yesterday, starting his press conference by addressing ‘‘the elephant in the room’’.
‘‘There is nothing more I can add to that - if there is it any more that needs to be spoken about … it will come from the NZ Rugby themselves - Steve Tew.’’
Hansen said there was no question mark over Smith starting the test on Saturday.
‘‘He is in a great headspace in that he knows he has dealt with that issue. And done the things he needs to do around it. He is excited about wanting to play.’’
Smith, who was sent home from South Africa over the incident, said it was a oneoff, but the woman told The Daily Mail they had been in a relationship for two years.
Smith was seen entering a disabled toilet with the woman after the test against the Springboks in Christchurch in September.
He was travelling with the team at the time and wearing All Blacks gear.
A husband and wife who were at Christchurch Airport and saw Smith and the woman enter the bathroom approached Stuff the week following the incident.
The woman said she wanted to speak out because she believed it was inappropriate behaviour for anyone in a public space, especially an All Black.