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Following Jordie Barrett’s early morning antics involving police, reports emerged of another All Black related incident, this time concerning wing Rieko Ioane.
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Newshub initially reported the 21-year-old was involved in an altercation with a teammate following their 20-10 home loss to the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday night.
The Blues issued a statement regarding the incident, which reads as follows:
“Antics at a private get-together after the game last night has led to Rieko Ioane being treated for a small cut above his eye.
Some high-jinks between Ioane and another player at the small gathering at a private residence, resulted in the Blues winger receiving a knock above his eye which was treated with medical glue at a local A&E clinic.
“We were just poking fun at each other. It’s not serious and I’ve apologised to my teammates and the club,” said Ioane.
Blues CEO Michael Redman said the club will check on the incident this week to determine if there were any breaches of team protocol.”
Ioane joins fellow All Black Jordie Barrett in hot water, after the youngest Barrett brother was spoken to by police after letting himself into a stranger’s flat following a night out.
Barrett has since addressed the incident, telling media Sunday morning “I can’t say I’m embarrassed by what’s happened, I’m just disappointed with the events that have unfolded.”
“He [Barrett’s friend Sam Casey] thought it was his mates’ house but it wasn’t, so we left.” Barrett continued.
“So I’m assuming they’d [the occupants of the flat] called the cops because they might have heard someone in their house, because we walked into the house thinking it was Sam’s mates.
“A few minutes later the penny dropped, he realised it wasn’t his mates’ house, we left, and then the cops came.
“They came and questioned us, asked a few questions and then we were released and then went back to the hotel.”
Barrett defended his behaviour and said he “can recall everything that happened that night and I was not intoxicated”.
Steve Hansen also spoke on the matter, telling Newstalk ZB “he won’t get reprimanded for anything other than being stupid… What we want him to be able to learn from this is how can I do things differently next time.”
Barrett and Ioane rejoined their All Blacks teammates at camp on Sunday to prepare for the upcoming Test series against France.
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