All Blacks scrumhalf Aaron Smith will miss Saturday’s Rugby Championship test against South Africa in Durban and is returning to New Zealand after being suspended for one match for misconduct.
The ban was imposed when team management learned on arrival in South Africa of an alleged encounter between Smith and a female friend in an airport toilet cubicle three weeks ago. The incident occurred on Sept. 17, the day after New Zealand’s 41-13 win over South Africa at Christchurch.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said Smith had admitted the incident and had asked to be able to return home to deal with “the personal matters that have come with this incident.” Smith is in a relationship.
He said the decision to suspend Smith was made by the team’s leadership group of senior players when details of the incident were received.
