All Black Aaron Smith has apologised for making "a huge mistake" after his toilet sex scandal broke this morning.
"I've made a huge mistake, a huge error in judgment. I'd firstly like to say a huge sorry to my partner Tegan, her family, my family," Smith said at a media confence in South Africa, according to Fairfax.
"I'm also sorry to my team-mates, NZRU and the New Zealand fans.
Fairfax said his voice broke at this point of his statement.
"My behaviour was unacceptable and if you could respect me and my partner in this situation. I'm just trying to get home to deal with this. Thank you."
Key: All Black clearly let himself down
Prime Minister John Key says All Black Aaron Smith "clearly let himself and those that are close to him down" after the halfback and a woman used a disabled toilet at Christchurch Airport.
The disgraced player has been stood down by the All Blacks for one game and is heading home from South Africa after the squad were alerted to the airport incident that unfolded the day after the test against the Springboks in Christchurch three weeks ago.
A witness has described how Smith and the woman used the toilet for 5-10 minutes on a busy Sunday afternoon, saying there was no question of what the pair were up to.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen confirmed the incident this morning, saying: "Clearly Aaron is bitterly disappointed in his behaviour and feels he has let the team down but just as importantly he feels bitterly disappointed in letting his family and his partner down".
The Prime Minister said this afternoon that Smith would have to reflect on his actions "and I'm sure the New Zealand Rugby Football Union will reflect on that."
John Key said that the All Blacks had been "for the most part" good role models in recent years under the leadership of Richie McCaw and Kieran Read.
"They do 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.
"And I think the [NZRU], coming off the back of a few other pretty poor PR issues in recent times will want to send a strong message to the All Blacks that they have a high level of expectation of their behaviour.
"And Aaron clearly didn't meet it."
Christchurch Airport this morning condemned the "inappropriate" behaviour by the rugby player in the terminal's toilets.
"Like many public facilities, we have disabled facilities. We don't condone inappropriate behaviour at our airport and we understand that matters are being dealt with between the All Blacks and the player concerned," a spokeswoman said.
A man wrote to the New Zealand Herald yesterday saying that he was at the airport with his wife and young children when they saw Smith "sneak" into a wheelchair access bathroom with a young woman who was not his partner.
"The pair were in the bathroom for 5-10 minutes and from the noises coming out of the bathroom there was absolutely no question what the couple were doing in there.
"Mr Smith then came out of the room on his own straightening up his white checked shirt and black dress pants (the All Black uniform they were all wearing at the time).
"About a minute later the young lady comes out of the same toilet cubicle looking equally suspicious. I myself did not have a problem with this ... my wife however is protesting that this is disgusting for a public figure to do.
"He essentially occupied a public cubicle reserved for the disabled for up to 10 minutes. This was not discreet, it was 2pm on a Sunday where there were a lot of children and fans around.
"He was in his full All Blacks uniform and there was not an ounce of remorse or regret on his face. He buttoned up his shirt and sat back down with his teammates and carried on smiling, chatting like nothing had happened."
A South Island woman this morning denied she was the mystery female friend who left the disabled persons toilet cubicle minutes after Smith.
Smith is now heading back to New Zealand from South Africa and will miss Sunday's test in Durban. New Zealand Rugby confirmed Smith will face a misconduct hearing on his return to New Zealand.
The incident occurred after the All Blacks' 41-13 victory in Christchurch on September 17. All Blacks management were only made aware of the incident this week once they arrived in South Africa for their final Rugby Championship test.
"On the Sunday in Christchurch after the South African test at the Christchurch airport Aaron and a female friend were seen by members of the public to enter the disabled toilets," Hansen said.
"On our arrival to South Africa on Monday we were informed on this. I had a conversation with Aaron who confirmed the story. As a result of this the leadership group met and were unanimous in the fact the behaviour wasn't acceptable and as a consequence a one-match suspension would be put in place."
"At his request he has asked to go home to deal with the personal matters that have come with this incident and we are happy to support him with that."
Smith was rested from last Sunday's win over Argentina in Buenos Aires and had been expected to start against the Springboks in Durban. TJ Perenara and Tawera Kerr-Barlow are the remaining halfbacks in the All Blacks squad.
In 2012, Smith was benched ahead of a test against South Africa in Dunedin for breaching team protocol after missing a team curfew. Two years later a naked selfie of Smith was posted on the internet.
Smith, rated by many as the best halfback in the world, made his test debut in 2012 and has played 54 tests for New Zealand. He was a key part of the successful All Blacks Rugby World Cup campaign last year in England which capped off a stellar year for Smith after his Highlanders side claimed their maiden Super Rugby title earlier in the season.
In recent years Smith's private life has spilled into public arena, including a one-night stand with Lisa Lewis.
There was further embarrassment when a nude photo went viral on social media, forcing the NZR to pull Smith from a meet-and-greet with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Another controversy
It's yet another off-field controversy for New Zealand Rugby following the Chiefs stripper scandal and the Losi Filipo case in the last month.
New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Steve Tew said: "This was really bad decision-making by Aaron which reflects poorly on him, and on the team."Tew said Smith had failed to meet the standards that New Zealand Rugby and the public expect of our players.
"We are taking action to improve the culture of our game and are about to embark on an independent review of respect and responsibility in our professional player environment. We have drafted the terms of reference and are currently talking to prospective panel members. We will provide an update on this shortly."Comments
These rugby players are real role models for our kids. Their behaviour is always moral and above criticism.
I hope my children never play rugby as it seems to be led by players who exemplify beating others up who are weaker than them or being unfaithful to their wives. If this is not going on then they seem to be treating woman like a caveman would. They, as our "national team", are a disgrace to the values and morals of this country. May my children never be exposed to this sort of behaviour by adults that should know bettor. For those who say it is only a one off event I say how many "one offs" make a culture of treating others like lesser people?
Aaron Smith is a great Rugby Player and I would suggest only one of thousands who have acted of the same manner with a member of opposite sex in toilet facilities all over the country, unfortunately some wonderful citizen decided to make it her business and now a No News item has become a major news item. Thank God at least he is a Heterosexual male, imagine the uproar if it have been an All Black with a male partner , its a drama all about nothing ,young men and women will always find somewhere to consummate their passion, and I can think of many places more uncomfortable than a disabled toilet at the airport. My best wishes to Aarons future, He is a Great player and should never have been sent home. Cant understand how anyone can be so pity and small minded in the 21st century with all the scandals that the world watches. This is not worth reporting.
Aaron didn't meet it. Circumstantial evidence doesn't meet the benchmark of fact. Moreover, the learned PM pulled hair non consentually over an extended period of time.
A famous man and a woman walked into an ablutions block designated for the wheelchair abled. Sounds were heard and recorded by an appalled party outside. The couple exited rearranging clothing and allegedly looking suspicious.
Conclusions are based on that which was never seen. This is called 'the Rashomon Effect'.