Sir John Kirwan slams ‘bull***t lies’ after destruction of prestigious New Zealand trophy

Several former All Blacks are angry at Hawke’s Bay and New Zealand Rugby after the Ranfurly Shield was broken at the weekend.

Hawke’s Bay claimed the trophy after beating Wellington 20-18 at Sky Stadium on Saturday, but much of the discussion has centred around the antics afterwards.

A video went viral showing the shield broken in two, and it is understood that the incident happened during a party in a player’s flat.

The players are claiming that it was damaged when it was accidentally dropped on the floor, but Sir John Kirwan is not buying that version of events.

“Tell the truth”

“Just don’t lie to us, that’s bull***t,” he said on The Breakdown. “You didn’t drop it and break it; something’s happened. Rugby’s a values-based game, so tell the truth because if you’re not going to tell the truth, I reckon we just take it off you.

“What annoys me is someone’s lied. It’s too important to the history of our game, so either ban them or do something else, but just don’t pass the ball; take responsibility for what you’ve done. It really annoys me.”

Despite the Rugby World Cup currently going on, it is an incident which has dominated headlines in New Zealand.

Another All Blacks great, Jeff Wilson, was similarly angry over what happened and insisted that the trophy had not been “treated with respect.”

“If you want to be treated like a professional, behave like one. Times have changed, it’s not good enough,” Wilson said.

“I never had the privilege of winning the Ranfurly Shield, and it’s one thing I’m bitterly disappointed about in my career. I’ve never touched it for that very reason. I got brought up with the fact that if you didn’t earn the right to get your hands on it, then you don’t touch it.

“The fact it hasn’t been treated with the respect it deserves, there needs to be ramifications.

“I don’t want the ball passed around between New Zealand Rugby, the players association, Hawke’s Bay, putting it all on the players. There has to be accountability; there has to be a responsibility by someone, or everybody, so that this doesn’t happen again.

“It’s just not good enough. It’s a treasured part of our history and our game, and instead of talking about a Rugby World Cup, this is what’s leading the headlines.

“It’s an absolute disgrace, and there needs to be action taken.”

Generational difference

All Blacks centurion Mils Muliaina wondered whether the players did not fully grasp what this trophy meant to the people and the sport in the country.

“This is probably the most prestigious trophy that is part of New Zealand history. I often wonder whether it actually means that much to the younger generation,” Muliaina said.

“I’ve heard stories about what happens to the shield, but it’s almost like they wanted to parade the fact it’s broken.

“There needs to be a collective understanding, and someone needs to take the fall in terms of what’s happened, and that’s probably at the top.”

Kirwan disagrees, however, and reiterated his issue with what he believes are ‘lies’ being told by Hawke’s Bay and the players.

“Someone has broken this; they need to step up, apologise for what they’ve done and then we’ll forgive and forget and move on, but don’t lie,” he added.

“That’s not a generational thing; that’s a values-based thing.

“The CEO of Hawke’s Bay Rugby needs to stand up, do his investigation and the person who’s done it needs to stand up and apologise to the rest of the rugby community, and then we can move on.

“But it’s the dishonesty I don’t like, and that’s not part of any generation. You can’t hide behind a generational thing.”

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