The captain of the All Blacks team that toured Britain in 1972 says suggestions an assault on a woman played a part in Keith Murdoch's banishment from the tour is "news to him".
Photo: Photosport
Murdoch, a powerful prop, was sent home after a late night incident at the Angel Hotel in Cardiff following the All Blacks 19-16 win over Wales where he scored the All Blacks only try.
Later that night he was involved in a scuffle and hit hotel employee Peter Grant.
Under pressure from the England rugby union All Blacks manager Ernie Todd decided to send Murdoch home.
Murdoch never arrived home, instead he got off the flight in Australia, where he lived until his death last year.
Stuff has reported that Ernie Todd's daughter told a book gathering in Featherston at the weekend that Murdoch became abusive to a woman hotel staff member when she wouldn't open the bar.
Moyra Pearce says her mother told her that Murdoch threatened and pursued the woman.
She also said that her father had been told by police that if they got him out of the country before their offices opened on Monday, they wouldn't press charges.
Keith Murdoch Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Todd died in 1974.
When spoken to by RNZ, 1972 captain Ian Kirkpatrick said it was "news to me".
"We were told that he was sent home because of the incident with the guard.
"I'm sure if there had been any other reason then we would have found out about it later."
