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'We have to be better': Highlanders chief executive speaks out after Shannon Frizell assault allegation

By Alex McLeod
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark has called for his players, and the franchise as a whole, to “be better” in the wake of Shannon Frizell’s alleged involvement in an assault on a woman in Dunedin last weekend.

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Police investigations are ongoing following reports of an assault, of which Frizell is alleged to have been involved in, at a bar at around 2:30am on Sunday.

The 27-year-old loose forward, who has been arguably the best players for the Highlanders this year, has subsequently been omitted from the club’s side to face the Reds in the opening fixture of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman this Friday.

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Fronting media on Wednesday, Clark said that while Frizell has not been charged by police, it was in the “best interests” of the involved parties for the 13-test All Black to sit out their upcoming clash against the newly-crowned Super Rugby AU champions.

“I think it’s important for us all to remember at this time that these are allegations and no charges have been laid,” Clark said.

“However, this has been a distraction for the player and the team, and in the best interests of everyone concerned, we’re going to omit Shannon from the team this week.”

Clark confirmed the Highlanders have investigated the matter, but added the franchise have left the matter in the hands of the police.

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He said he would “be surprised” if any charges were laid against Frizell.

“I’d be surprised. That’s just based on what I know, so it’s a personal opinion,” Clark said.

He noted the decision to stand Frizell down from this weekend’s match was “important” as the incident has been “been a massive distraction” for both the player in question and the franchise as a whole.

Clark assured that the Highlanders have given Frizell the necessary support as he claimed that, “as an employer”, the franchise have “responsibilities” to support their employees.

This isn’t the first time in the last 12 months that the Highlanders have found themselves at the centre of off-field controversy.

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Earlier this year, six players – including star playmaker Josh Ioane – were suspended for one match for breaching team protocols after police were called to a party at Ioane’s house.

It came after the Highlanders apologised after seven of their players were involved in a drunken night out in Queenstown last July.

Clark said lessons need to be learned from the players’ indiscretions in order to avoid future situations such as these.

“For me, the challenge is making sure that these guys are prepared professionally and they don’t compromise themselves in a compromising position.”

He believes the Highlanders, New Zealand Rugby and the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association are doing enough to prepare players for the pitfalls that come with being a professional rugby player, but acknowledged there are challenges that come with “dealing” with “young men” in the profession.

“I think, for me, that’s an ongoing challenge for us when we’re dealing with 50 young men from the ages of 19 to, say, 30 and that’s something we strive to be better at every day,” Clarke said of how players are prepared for a career in professional rugby.

“Any time something happens, it’s completely unacceptable, and we do our very, very best every time to learn from each of those and try and get better.

“It’s something we’ll address again through the season, and at the end of the season, to be better again, because we have to be.”

Interim Highlanders head coach Clarke Dermody said that, despite the loss of Frizell for the Reds clash, he has full faith in those selected to pick up a result at Forsyth Barr Stadium two days’ time.

“As far as on-field, Shannon’s a big part of our team. He’s been playing great footy for us, but I’ve got full faith in the guys to come in and do a job for us this week.

“We’re more just looking forward to starting a new comp.”

Kick-off for Friday’s match is scheduled for 7:05pm [local time].

Listen to the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below:

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Nickers 3 hours ago
Why the All Blacks overlooking Joe Schmidt could yet hurt them in the Bledisloe battle

I've never understood why Razor stayed on in NZ after winning 3 SR titles in a row. Surely at that point it's time to look for the next thing, which at that stage of his career should not have been the ABs, and arguably still shouldn't be given his lack of experience in International rugby. What was gained by staying on at the Crusaders to win 4 more titles?


2 years in the premiership, 2 years as an assistant international coach, then 4 years taking a team through a WC cycle would have given him what he needed to be the best ABs coach. As it is he is learning on the job, and his inexperience shows even more when he surrounds himself with assistant coaches who have no top international experience either.


He is being faced with extreme adversity and pressure now, possibly for the first time in his coaching career. Maybe he will come through well and maybe he won't, but the point is the coaching selection process is so flawed that he is doing it for the first time while in arguably the top coaching job in world rugby. It's like your first job out of university being the CEO of Microsoft or Google.


There was talk of him going to England if the ABs didn't get him, that would have been perfect in my opinion. That is a super high pressure environment and NZR would have been way better off letting him learn the trade with someone else's team. I predicted when Razor was appointed that he would be axed or resign after 2 years then go on to have a lot of success in his next appointment. I hope that doesn't happen because it will mean a lot of turmoil for the ABs, but it's not unthinkable. Many of his moves so far look exactly like the early days of Foster's era when he too was flanked by coaches who were not up to the job. I would like to see some combination of Cotter, Joseph, Brown, and Felix Jones come into the set up.

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