Seeking treatment: Zac Guildford
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Troubled All Blacks winger Zac Guildford will take an indefinite break from rugby as he seeks treatment for personal issues, officials said on Saturday.
23-year-old Guildford, who has a history of alcohol-related problems, is facing misconduct proceedings after an off-field incident earlier this month when he reportedly became involved in a brawl with a man at a party.
The New Zealand Rugby Union said he had decided to withdraw indefinitely from the Crusaders ahead of the Super Rugby season to undergo an intensive treatment programme.
"Zac's withdrawal from the Crusaders means they are able to concentrate on preparing for their 2013 season, and Zac will be free from rugby to concentrate on resolving his personal issues," NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said in a statement.
Guildford admitted to having alcohol issues when publicly reprimanded by the All Blacks' management during the 2011 World Cup and two months later announced a 12-month drinking ban after he ran naked into a bar and allegedly punched two men.
New Zealand Rugby Players Association chief executive Rob Nichol said Guildford had accepted he faced a major challenge which meant he had to put his career on hold.
"We have taken the advice of experts and Zac is committed to the plan they have developed," he said.
"It is fundamental that he commits fully to the plan, and sees it through -- this means withdrawing from the rugby environment."
Crusaders Head Coach Todd Blackadder said his whole team was supporting Guilfor.
"We see this as a positive step forward in overcoming his illness," said Blackadder.
"This is ultimately about his well-being so it is important for him to take the time to fully address it. "
" We are unclear on what it means for the Crusaders at this time."
The winger has played 10 Tests and scored six tries for the All Blacks.
Comments
Trinats2 says...
Guildford and BokAvenger drink from the same gla.......bottle ???
new_j4a:
I hear you buddy, but Guildford is feral and didn't deserve a second chance let alone this 10th chance. Rugby is better without his like (and I don't mean the illness)
Posted 10:08 26th January 2013
sirtidychris says...
Doesn't this all seem massively over the top? He got pissed and got in a fight, Jason Robinson, Dan grewcock, Andy Powell and thousands of other rugby players have done similar things....I'm not saying he doesnt have a problem and what he did wasnt right, but to cut of his livelihood and his reason for being...seems so harsh, by all accounts he's a stand up bloke sober, this is just a slip up on a long road to recovery surely remaining working in the support network of rugby while seeking treatment makes more sense than sitting in your lounge watching the rugby on telly and getting slowly more depressed?
Posted 10:00 26th January 2013
new_j4a says...
Good luck ZG. That is a big dragon to slay. And well done kiwi rugby for supporting him.
Posted 08:37 26th January 2013
BokAvenger says...
Don't worry Zac, you can always make a comeback as a NZ rugby referee. That way you can drink yourself blind whilst reffing a game and no one will know the difference. Most NZ rugby refs just make the rules up as they go along anyway. And if for some unfathomable reason you don't cut it as a ref in NZ, well then you can always emigrate to Australia. They're so desperate for referees they'll take an alco no questions asked. Just look at how well Steve Walsh has done.
Posted 07:58 26th January 2013
benski says...
That'll be the last we see of him, sad.
Posted 07:53 26th January 2013