In the end, an apology arrived for a post published by the All Blacks on International Women's Day: published on Twitter, instead of paying homage, it seemed to put aside the female gender.
"Always grateful to all the women in our lives for allowing us to play the game we love," reads the tweet. The post was accompanied by pictures of rugby players with their respective partners, daughters and female family members.
"We did not understand well and we apologize", the New Zealand federal leaders specified. "NZR and our team celebrated International Women's Day on all official digital channels, our intent was to portray the many roles women play in rugby." The New Zealand women's team - known as Black Ferns - tweeted from their separate account, celebrating International Women's Day with a selection of players who have chosen positive female role models in their respective lives, but the women's team was not mentioned by the All. Blacks in their tweet. The Black Ferns are world champions in rugby at 15 and have won gold at Tokyo 2020. "Our entire rugby community is so proud of our Black Ferns and all of our women, in everything they do inside and out. from the field, ”NZR said. The identity of the male players depicted in the All Blacks post also caused consternation. Wing Sevu Reece, who pleaded guilty to injuring a woman in 2018, was included in the post. Scrum-half Aaron Smith, who had an affair that led to him being suspended for lying to the All Blacks leadership, was another protagonist. Former England star Kat Merchant was among those who responded to the All Blacks' initial post. "Black ferns are reigning world champions, but this post has chosen to ignore their existence and instead thank the women who 'allow' men to play."
Player Florence Williams added: "They celebrated female stereotypes:" they allow us to play. "
(Unioneonline / vl)