The All Blacks have apologised for a “tone deaf” International Women’s Day social media post which praised the team’s wives for supporting them, and featured a player who had assaulted his female partner.
They issued an apology following a huge backlash to the original post, which emphasised women in supporting roles, rather than celebrating New Zealand’s women’s rugby union teams.
New Zealand’s Black Ferns are reigning world champions and have won five of the last six Women’s World Cups, while the country’s sevens team, the Black Ferns Sevens, have won the last two World Cups and are the current Olympic and Commonwealth champions.
“Forever grateful to all the women in our lives that allow us to play the game we love. Partners, mothers, daughters, doctors, physios, referees, administrators and fans. Appreciate you every day,” the original caption read.