NZ Rugby, the Chiefs and Scarlette: How Not To Deal With A Stripper Scandal

Photo credit: YouTube.

The New Zealand Rugby (NZR) have just provided the world of sports management with a handy field guide.

The title? How To Not Deal With A Stripper Scandal.

Yesterday, the NZR released its investigation into the infamous Chiefs 'Mad Monday' celebrations last month, that saw members of the Super Rugby team allegedly inappropriately touch, lick, throw gravel and alcohol at a stripper.

'Scarlette' - the stripper at the centre of the scandal - made the allegations, and has openly spoken to several Kiwi media outlets about what occurred. A number of big name sponsors left the team following the incident.

Yet the NZR, whose internal investigation was conducted by its own lawyer, has exonerated any players of blame.

NZR chief executive Steve Tew said the investigation spoke to 'independent' witnesses of what occurred, and that, from those accounts, Scarlette's allegations could not be collaborated. Tew said whatever happened was 'consensual.'

He also refused to ban future 'Mad Monday' celebrations.

While there was plenty of talk about 'disappointment' and 'errors in judgement' by NZR, the response from the media, politicians and the stripper herself has been swift – and telling.

"I am disappointed but not surprised at the outcome of the NZR's internal investigation," 'Scarlette' said, in a statement.

"My advice for all women is if you are going to attend an all-male event such as the one organised by the Chiefs, whether you are a paid worker or not, [is] take a friend or a supporter who can make sure you are safe and who can vouch for you afterwards if needed."

Alex Casey, an award-winning opinion writer at The Spinoff, questioned how independent the NZRU's investigation really was.

"This is a bit like Colonel Sanders being put in charge of an inquiry into the 11 secret herbs and spices and pronouncing them delicious," she wrote.

NZR's press conference in Wellington yesterday regarding their investigation into the Chiefs stripper scandal. Source: YouTube.

New Zealand Herald columnist Rachel Smalley described the investigation a "total failure", that suggested the "rugger-bugger booze and birds culture is very much alive and well in New Zealand."

The politicians have been just as disappointed with what has occurred.

Poto Williams, Labour's sexual violence spokeswoman, slammed the NZRU's investigation, saying it could pave the way for other player to repeat the way the Chiefs acted.

"It seems as hough they've kind of left the door open for antics like this to happen again in the future," Williams told Stuff.

"Once you just start to leave the door a little bit open, it means that you're providing an opportunity to say there's not much to see here and let's go away – and that's not the case because we really need to [say that] disrespecting anyone in our community is not on."

Green Party women's affairs spokeswoman Jan Logie agreed with Williams.

"We have very high rates of violence against women in this country and we have had far too many public cases of women coming forward with concerns around their safety being publicly sacrificed for speaking out … sadly, I think this is another example of that," Logie also told Stuff.