Not guilty plea over ABs bugging

A security consultant who was charged after a listening device was found in the All Blacks’ Sydney hotel room in August has pleaded not guilty.

Adrian Gard, 51, was charged with one count of false misrepresentation resulting in a police investigation in February. Police will allege Gard gave a false statement that he had found an ‘‘unlawful listening device’’ in a chair in an All Blacks team meeting room, which then resulted in an unnecessary investigation.

Gard’s lawyer, Simon Joyner, said outside Waverley Local Court, Sydney, yesterday that his client would plead not guilty when he returned to court on May 2.

‘‘He has participated with the police investigation and he respects the All Blacks and what they represent,’’ Joyner said.

He requested a two-day hearing to coincide with the availability of All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and his management. Gard declined to comment. News of the incident, which broke on the morning of the first Bledisloe Cup test between Australia and New Zealand in August, sent shockwaves through the rugby world.

While no-one from New Zealand Rugby said they thought the device was planted by someone from within the Australian camp, Australian Rugby Union chief executive Bill Pulver and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika believed there was an implication of foul play.

The incident left a sour taste in trans-Tasman relations for the remainder of the year.

Gard worked with the All Blacks as a security guard for 12 years whenever they toured Australia. He also worked for a number of high-profile clients, including former US President Bill Clinton.