Super Rugby Aotearoa: Chiefs 'confident' players weren't involved in hotel disturbances

  • Updated
  • 10/05/2021

The Chiefs deny any wrongdoing, despite accusations of raucous behaviour after Saturday's Super Rugby Aotearoa final.

After the Chiefs' 24-13 defeat by the Crusaders at OrangeTheory Stadium, guests at Christchurch's Novotel hotel in Cathedral Square complained of inappropriate behaviour by the team.

The accusations included players or supporters found naked in hotel corridors, breaking glass bottles and vomiting, with guests reportedly kept up all night by excess noise, including banging on walls.

Chiefs chief executive Michael Collins says the organisation has taken all the complaints seriously, but are condident no members of the team were involved.

"We have thoroughly worked through the guest's complaint and, in particular, the descriptions of the people involved," Collins says.

"While we will continue to investigate with our players and staff, we are confident that, based on our inquiries to date, none of our people were on the 12th floor or were involved in unruly behaviour that upset other hotel guests.

"We are extremely sympathetic to the guests on the 12th floor who had their sleep disturbed on Saturday night and Sunday morning. If the team were responsible, we would take immediate and swift action.

"At this point in time, all the facts gathered suggest that we are not responsible."

One guest has told Stuff that the Chiefs' partying carried through until approximately 4:30am.

This is not the first unsavoury incident involving the Chiefs' post-season celebrations - five years ago, a stripper alleged she was touched inappropriately by players at a team function.

The Hamilton-based team are due to depart for Perth later this week, as they begin their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaign away to Western Force on Saturday.

Join us at 7pm Friday for live updates of the Highlanders v Reds Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash