The specifics surrounding Mark Telea’s alleged breach of curfew remain obscured in rumor and speculation. However, it’s become increasingly apparent that breaking away from their lodgings for a little bit of mischief is almost a tradition for New Zealand’s All Blacks.
Back in 2005, on the eve of an end-of-year tour to Wales, several non-playing members of the squad chose to initiate festivities early. A pack boasting Dan Carter, Piri Weepu, Jimmy Cowan, Aaron Mauger, Leon MacDonald, and Jason Eaton opted for a night of revelry in the streets of Cardiff.
Refusing to let interruptions such as “closing time” dampen their spirits, these plucky adventurers decided to abandon Cardiff in favor of The Church, a beloved London entity that accommodates a distinctly vigorous class of Kiwis and Australians. Carter later conceded in his autobiography that though concluding a tour with a visit to the Church was indeed commendable, kicking off one in the same manner was less so. After forking out £300 to a cab driver for a three-hour ride, they found themselves shivering in anticipation for the venue to open two hours later. Recognizing the folly of their actions, the group finally decided to return to Cardiff, where they received a verbal lashing from the captain, Tana Umaga.
Fast forward to 2006, the aftermath of a Hurricanes Super Rugby final defeat to the Crusaders took an unexpected turn. In the early hours, outgoing captain Umaga intervened in a raucous incident at a Christchurch pub involving teammate Chris Masoe, making headlines for his unusual method of discipline. According to a witness at the scene, Umaga, perhaps serving as a stand-in mother figure, wielded a woman’s handbag as an unconventional tool of correction. The witness likened the scenario to a parent reprimanding a mischievous child. The seemingly innocent Roxy bag yielded a windfall of $22,750 at auction on Trade Me.
In the 2007 quarter-final, player Doug Howlett showed some semblance of patience by waiting until the All Blacks’ subsequent elimination before embarking on nocturnal shenanigans. Arrested outside London’s Hilton hotel, the then-29-year-old was accused of causing criminal damage to two vehicles. Revelations of a $33,000 bar tab added to the conundrum. Howlett later took accountability for his actions, labeling them as mere “tomfoolery”.
Similar quarter-final jitters cast a shadow on the All Blacks in 2011. Cory Jane, accompanied by injured fullback Israel Dagg, exhibited rather unconventional pre-game preparations. Jane, spotted in a state of intoxication at a Takapuna pub just hours before his scheduled performance on the field, attained infamy for a peculiar accessory – a single jandal. Witnesses reported the players as being noticeably impaired and incoherent. All intertwined in the tapestry of the All Blacks’ eventful and occasionally unruly profile, these tales reveal an indulgence in unexpected leisure and a knack for post-match drama amid the pressure of conditions on the field.
