4 Oct 2023

Players from team who broke Ranfurly shield available for weekend's game, despite investigation

From Checkpoint, 5:10 pm on 4 October 2023

All rugby players from the team that trashed the Ranfurly Shield are available for selection for this weekend's games despite an ongoing investigation into their behaviour at a post-match party.

Hawke's Bay won the Shield off Wellington at the weekend but during the celebrations the newly refurbished shield was dropped and it broke in half.

Pictures of the Log O Wood busted in half surfaced on social media, including ones showing white powder on the shield - which was dropped at 7.30am.

Hawke's Bay Rugby chief executive Jay told Checkpoint it was a matter of finding out "the facts before you actually go down standing people down ... to see what actually went on".

There were about seven or eight players when the shield was dropped, he said.

Campbell confirmed the player who dropped the shield had been drinking, but would not say how much.

"I've had a brief conversation with him on Sunday.

"I'm very, very concerned that we've disrespected the shield. The shield is the greatest rugby prize in the game and the way we've treated it and respected it is poor. That for me is the hardest thing."

Hawke's Bay Rugby chief executive Jay Campbell.

Jay Campbell Photo: RNZ / Kate Green

He said all the players were signed up to the New Zealand Players collective agreement.

Campbell said players had been educated about drinking and drugs.

He said the review would detail what happened.

New Zealand Rugby has re-taken possession of the Ranfurly Shield and is investigating the incident.

One player is also facing drink-drive charges after crashing a car into a fence the morning after the team's winning game.

"There's nothing wrong with the culture," he said, adding that the team was trying to earn back the trust of the community.

He said the country would have to wait for the review to be completed before finding out details.

"We wait and see. We're desperate. We want to get the answers quicker than you."

Today Hawke's Bay Magpies vice captain Brad Weber, who was not at the post-match party, fronted a press conference, with the head coach.

Captain Tom Parsons was not made available but will lead the team out at Sunday's game against Bay of Plenty.

"I've spoken to my captain, but I haven't spoken to him about what was going on," Campbell said, unaware if Parsons was at the post-match party.

"We've got a game to play on Sunday and this is what our focus has to be. The other stuff will take care of itself."