All Black Aaron Smith apologises for bathroom incident

06 October 2016 - 16:35 By Craig Ray

New Zealand scrumhalf Aaron Smith has apologised for his behaviour after being caught on camera entering a public toilet with a female ‘friend’‚ which has cost him his place in the All Black squad. Smith was found guilty of breaching team standards by a panel of his peers and suspended for one match – this weekend’s Rugby Championship encounter against the Springboks in Durban.Smith was filmed entering a disabled toilet cubicle following the All Blacks’ 41-13 win over the Springboks in Christchurch last month.The matter has sparked huge outrage in New Zealand. It has focused both on Smith and his behaviour towards his partner and also towards a couple that filmed the incident and then shared the footage.Smith faced media at Durban airport where he was due to begin his journey back to NZ where he can expect an awkward public reception and a potentially heart-breaking personal one. "I've made a huge mistake‚ a huge error in judgment. I'd firstly like to say a huge sorry to my partner Teagan‚ her family‚ and to my family‚" Smith said‚ while fighting back tears in the arrivals hall.“I'm also sorry to my team-mates‚ NZRU and the New Zealand fans. 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."The situation has made massive headlines in NZ after a season in which several off field incidents have rocked rugby.Earlier this year a female exotic dancer accused several Chiefs players of sexually assaulting her but the outcome of that investigation only resulted in a warning for the players.Even NZ Prime Minister John Key has commented on the Aaron Smith incident. Key told NZ media: "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."I think the rugby union‚ coming off the back of a couple of other pretty poor PR issues in recent times‚ will want to make sure they send a strong message to the All Blacks that they have a high level of expectation in their behaviour."TMG Digital/TMG Sport..

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