TRFU to probe bar frolics
By LEIGHTON KEITH leighton.keith@tnl.co.nz - Taranaki | Saturday, 13 October 2007
Members of the Taranaki rugby team are being investigated after late-night high jinx in a New Plymouth bar.
Yesterday, Taranaki Rugby Football Union (TRFU) chief executive Mark Robinson confirmed the union was investigating allegations about several players' behaviour at the Crowded House Bar on Sunday, October 7.
The team had been knocked out of the Air New Zealand Cup by Auckland the night before.
The allegations surfaced the same week All Black Doug Howlett landed himself in trouble with British police after he jumped on parked cars outside Heathrow Airport's Hilton Hotel, in London.
The Taranaki Daily News understands the local allegations involve unruly behaviour, nudity, players helping themselves to drinks and under-age barmaids drinking.
A duty manager at the bar has resigned and the owners are conducting their own investigation into what happened on the night.
The Taranaki Daily News also understands the parents of one of the barmaids is seeking compensation from the bar or the TRFU.
Crowded House is the official bar to the TRFU and was recently named top sports bar at the Hospitality Association's Awards for Excellence.
Mr Robinson said the TRFU was still trying to establish what happened.
"The TRFU acknowledges that some of its players were present, along with other members of the public."
Mr Robinson said the union had protocols to manage allegations and it was working through those.
"The union is satisfied, at this stage, any disciplinary action for the players present is unnecessary."
Up to 12 players from the Taranaki team were at the bar.
Mr Robinson said it was important the TRFU went through the process.
"We are not having this or any other inquiry aired through the media."
Young barmaids working or drinking at the bar were not a TRFU issue, Mr Robinson said.
Crowded House co-owner Kerry Simeon, who only arrived back in New Zealand on Thursday having been at the World Cup, said he was still getting the facts together.
"It sounds like the culmination of a lot of stupid fun.
"There was a little bit of drinking going on. There was, I believe, a streak through the bar."
Mr Simeon said the bar was trying to deal with the problem in a professional manner.
"Silly behaviour is always going to happen, it is how you deal with it."
Mr Simeon said he wanted to have a meeting with the two 17-year-old barmaids, and their families, this week and he hoped the TRFU would attend.
Both girls have kept their jobs.
Mr Simeon said the bar was safe and had developed a good reputation with the police and public during its 10 years. His 16-year-old daughter worked in the bar
