Former All Blacks coach Ian Foster has confirmed family members were victims of an attempted mugging at Paris, during the Rugby World Cup.
Wife Leigh and daughter Michaela were reportedly confronted by a knife-wielding man near the team's hotel, which was apparently situated in a high-crime area.
While the incident went unreported at the time, All Blacks players and management were subsequently warned not venture out after dark, and the hotel was dropped from the tournament accommodation list.
Foster has released a statement about the incident.
"In regards to recent reports, I can confirm there was an incident involving my wife and one of my daughters in Paris during the opening week of the Rugby World Cup," he said.
"Leigh and Michaela were walking to our team hotel from a nearby train station in the early evening, when they were confronted by a young man with a knife. The man appeared to be under the influence of something.
"My family were able to defuse the situation calmly, but firmly, and the man left. Team security, which included local authorities, were made aware of this when Leigh and Michaela returned.
"As a family, we would like to reiterate that this did not in any way take away from our time in France, which was positive overall."
Michaela Foster was a member of the Football Ferns team that contest the Women's World Cup in New Zealand this year.
Ian Foster guided the All Blacks to the Rugby World Cup final, before they fell 12-11 to South Africa, as the coach ended his tenure with the national team.
