Super Rugby powerhouse apologises for coach’s foul-mouthed journo spray

Having long prided itself on keeping all the dirty laundry hidden, New Zealand rugby has had its muddy socks and jocks on full display this week in the form of cranky coaches swearing at journalists and letter-writing threats about civil war and governance.

In fact, if you squint hard enough, you could have mistaken it for a week in the life of their perma-crisis cousins: Australian rugby.

The dramatic events emerged across the Tasman this week via two rare developments in the usually staid world of New Zealand rugby: an unfolding squabble about governance that saw Kiwi players publicly threaten civil war, and the extraordinary collapse of reigning champions the Crusaders this season.

The Crusaders are arguably the most successful franchise in world rugby, and in southern hemisphere sport in general – having won 12 of 29 full Super Rugby titles, including the last five straight.

But after coach Scott Robertson was promoted to the All Blacks, new coach Rob Penney has overseen a horrific season for the Christchurch team: they’ve won just two games from 12 and will miss the finals for the first time in 23 years. The last-placed Waratahs have only won two games this year – and both were against the Crusaders.

Penney, who was sacked by the Waratahs in 2021, is under pressure to keep his job and the pressure appeared to take a toll this week when the veteran coach was caught calling a journalist a “c---” on a live mic after a press conference.

Rob Penney has not had a successful season with the Crusdaers.Credit: Getty

After a testy exchange about his future with 1News reporter Thomas Mead, Penney was taking off a microphone pack when he asked Crusaders media manager Jack Fletcher: “He’s a disgrace, that c---. Who’s he?”

The media manager quickly tried to shut down the conversation, saying he would talk to Penney later, but the coach insisted, ‘No, talk to me now.’

The Crusaders issued a statement on Thursday, in which chief executive Colin Mansbridge said he had apologised to Mead.

Waratahs coach Rob Penney was moved on midway through his second season.Credit: Getty

“The Crusaders held a media conference on Wednesday for the purpose of naming our team for the week and discussing the upcoming fixture against the Blues,” Mansbridge said.

“A line of questioning was undertaken from a reporter present concerning Rob Penney’s future as Crusaders head coach. After the media conference had concluded, a private comment to a colleague was inadvertently recorded on third party microphones, and Rob has since apologised to me for what was said.

“On behalf of the Crusaders organisation, I apologise for the comments he made regarding the reporter. I spoke to the reporter today and he has accepted our apology.”

Despite Penney’s record, the Crusaders have indicated they intend to keep him on as coach in 2025, with New Zealand rugby having also prided itself as an organisation that doesn’t sack coaches.

But public disputes also weren’t the done thing in New Zealand either, until this week when the powerful New Zealand Rugby Players Association issued an extraordinary letter threatening to break away from the NZRU and set up a new body to run the game in New Zealand.

Richie McCaw was a signatory on the NZRPA letter.Credit: Getty

The incendiary letter – issued on behalf of all New Zealand professional players and also bearing the signatures of ex-captains Richie McCaw and David Kirk – was related to proposed governance reforms in New Zealand rugby, which came out of a review last year that said modernisation was required.

New Zealand Rugby has a complex governance set up where 26 provincial unions have considerable power and – reluctant to give that up – some of the provincial unions have proposed different governance reform ahead of a vote on May 30.

But in a strong position, the NZRPA told NZR’s voting members that professional players would simply refuse to recognise NZR’s right to govern the game, via a collective bargaining agreement, if its preferred proposal is blocked.

“This new body, for example called ‘The Professional Rugby Tribunal’, will govern, in some sort of partnership with NZRU, the sale of media rights, the contracting of sponsors, the revenue share model, international and national competitions, the high-performance programs and development pathways and any other activity that impacts the careers, safety, remuneration, workplace and development of professional players,” the letter said.

“NZRU will continue to govern alone the community and amateur game including provincial rugby, club rugby and other non-professional rugby activities.

“The proposed new arrangements outlined above are NOT the NZRPA’s preference.The professional players do not want to see a divided and further complicated governance system but will not under any circumstances be governed under proposal 2 or the status quo.”

Rob Penney’s press conference interaction with 1News journalist

Rob, the image of you in the coach’s box last weekend...

(Penney sighs)

...again painted a very defeated picture. How were you feeling after that game, in that moment?

Which one was this?

It was the image of you right at the end of the game last week, at the weekend, when that game was lost.

Against the Brumbies?

Yes.

How would you like me to respond?

That’s just a question for you.

I’m answering it.

It’s not my opinion.

I’m answering it.

It’s a question for you. You looked defeated.

Looked defeated?

How did you feel in that moment?

Disappointed for the boys, fundamentally, yeah.

How much responsibility do the players have to take in this rut-slash-season?

We’re all in together. It’s a combination of many things and we’ll endeavour to put on a great performance this weekend against the Blues.

What would you do differently?

In what way?

To win more games.

In what way?

I’m not a coach, that’s why I’m asking you, as the expert.

OK.

You’ve lost a number of games, what do you want to do differently to win them going forward?

Probably win those critical moments where we’re just not able to get across the line. We’ve been close a number of times and there’s been moments where for one reason or another we haven’t won the pressure points and been able to get ourselves in front or have consistency. That would probably be something that we would endeavour to improve.

Do you expect to still be here in this role next year?

Absolutely.

Would you consider stepping aside?

No.

If not, would you take on a director of rugby-type role you’re seeing more and more?

I don’t know why that would be mooted.

How hard is it to pick yourselves up for what is going to be a do-or-die match against the Blues on Saturday?

Not at all. Very excited. Not long after the completion of the Brumbies we’d already started to move on to the Blues and the boys were invigorated by the prospect.

As the coach, do you take any responsibility for the series of losses that you’ve seen this year?

Of course.

Where does the blame lie? Does it lie with the players? Does it lie with you?

If you’re looking to apportion blame, I’ll leave that to others. All I know is that everyone in the organisation is working really hard to get the outcomes that we’re deserving and would love to see.

What could you personally do better or change going forward?

I guess there’s elements of every employment situation where you’re looking to improve and get better and that’s just a continual evolution in the role that I’m in and that won’t change, so in terms of myself getting better or improving, I’m just trying to do that all the time and trying to help the people around me do the same.

How are the players feeling about your performance as coach? Have you had much feedback from them?

Yeah, I get it every minute of every day.

What have they said to you?

They’re personal conversations which I’m not prepared to share with you.

What’s the general theme of those conversations? Do they support you as coach?

I wouldn’t be here if I felt otherwise.