Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge admits the team's brand has been tarnished, after the Super Rugby Aotearoa trophy was damaged during the squad's celebrations over the weekend.
The Crusaders were awarded the 'Tū Kōtahi Aotearoa' trophy, after their 32-22 win over the Highlanders gave them an unassailable lead atop the standings with one round remaining.
Tū Kōtahi Aotearoa translates to 'Stand As One, New Zealand' and Otaki carver Bill Doyle created the ornate trophy, which represents the coming together of the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders after the disruption and turmoil caused by COVID-19.
During the hours after the trophy was presented, it suffered damage to the base. Images also show the pounamu missing, but Mansbridge insists one of the players deliberately removed it to protect it.
When asked if the Crusaders brand had been tarnished, Mansbridge simply said "yes".
"We all understood the significance of it and we paid respect to it when we received it," he says. "The more I've learnt about this, the more significant it's become.
"We're disappointed we haven't acted as kaitiaki [guardian] as we should have and we want to do our best to do that. We need to get better, there is no doubt about that.
"We will let the process take care of itself. It is a special trophy and therefore it is unlike any other that has been awarded before.
"Dealing with it with the respect it deserves is virgin territory for me and the club."
When contacted by Newshub, Doyle did not wish to comment on the incident, but daughter Geena hasn't held back on social media.
"Dropped it my arse," she writes on Facebook. "When my Dad gets it back and fixes it, he should bloody keep it.
"I believe they took photos inappropriate with it [the pounamu] and it was the cleaners that found the pounamu by the rubbish. I was also told they used this taonga as a doorstop.
"You don't deserve it back."
Crusaders captain Codie Taylor "has also apologised on behalf of the team, responding to an Instagram message from an irate fan.
Mansbridge says they are seeking "cultural advice".
"Bill is a nice, humble man, and he was very gracious and polite," he says. "He will be disappointed, but he didn't show it.
"We have to be sensitive to Bill, but we will do our best to respect his mana.
"Management, the board, fans and sponsors are proud of winning the trophy. We're proud to have won it and we haven't fulfilled our obligations as kaitiaki.
"We're in a process of how we deal with that and how we conduct ourselves. It is unfortunate and we're unhappy with what's happened.
The Crusaders are due to face the Blues at a sold-out Eden Park on Sunday, although the match is in doubt, due to Auckland's Alert Level 3 restrictions.
If the alert drops to Level 2, the game could still go ahead without fans.
Join us at 3:30pm Sunday for live updates of the Blues v Crusaders Super Rugby Aotearoa
