8 Aug 2017

All Blacks held off going to police about bug, court told

3:54 pm on 8 August 2017

A court in Sydney has been told the All Blacks only decided to go to police about a bug found in their hotel five days after its discovery and only when they learnt the story was going to break in the media.

All Blacks security guard Adrian Gard has pleaded not guilty to a charge he made a false claim to police by reporting the bug had been found.

It's alleged a bug was found in a chair in the team's meeting room at the Intercontinental in Double Bay, before last year's opening Bledisloe Cup match.

All Blacks manager Darren Shand.

All Blacks manager Darren Shand. Photo: Photosport

Paul Walters, the former general manager of the hotel, has told the court he was called to a hotel room with All Blacks team manager Darren Shand and Gard on the afternoon of Monday 15 August 2016.

"They told me that had found a listening device and showed me said device," Mr Walters said.

"I said, 'Would you like me to contact police?' Mr Shand requested I do not contact police."

Mr Walters said he asked Mr Shand three times in the days after the listening device was found if they wanted to make it a police matter.

"I suggested again to Mr Shand, he said, 'no'," Mr Walters said.

It was not until Saturday, game day, the team decided to make it a criminal matter.

"I woke [on Saturday] to a missed call from Mr Shand," Mr Walters said.

"I called him back, shortly after 9:00am.

"Mr Shand advised the news of the bugging would hit the press in 15 minutes and they were happy to get the police involved."

The All Blacks dismantled the Wallabies 42-8 that night, just 12 hours after the details of the listening device emerged.

-ABC