By Tom McRae
It has been confirmed that a racist text message was sent to Auckland Blues coach Pat Lam's phone.
The message was sent from former Auckland coach Mark Anscombe and refers to Polynesian and Maori players in a racial and derogatory way.
The man at the centre of the allegations was not talking today, but 3 News can confirm the text was sent.
Lam would not talk either.
“I honestly have no comment, that's it from me.”
The text used the most racially offensive word.
"Gareth would be playing a lot better if he didn't have n-----s playing outside him."
Anscombe is the former Auckland rugby team's coach.. His son Gareth plays for the Blues and in February had been dropped from the starting side after a poor start to the season.
“I have to work hard, look at my game and get along with the coaches and some of the senior players and if I keep doing that and keep my head down rather than sulking then I’ll hopefully move in the right direction,” Gareth said in February.
The text was sent around the time Lam broke down after receiving racial abuse online and on talk back in April.
Anscombe is quoted as saying the text came from his phone but that he did not send it.
All Black legend Buck Shelford says an explanation is needed.
“I've known Mark for a long long time and I don't think that would've come out of Mark's mouth. He wouldn't do that he's not that type of guy. And I think Mark needs to front up to cameras and make a formal apology on TV.”
After just the second win of the season in the weekend the Blues were hoping to focus on the positives this week.
“I have no comment, I’m a rugby coach I have a job it's a simple job, I’m not the Prime Minister, and we've got a big job ahead and that's really what I should be talking about.”
Instead he has been left dealing with yet another distraction.
3 News
source: newshub archive
