Police "have charged a security consultant employed by the All Blacks in relation to a listening device found in the team's hotel in the lead-up to the first Bledisloe Cup match of last year," according to Tom Decent of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Police charged Adrian Gard, the director of Bodyguards Int'l -- a security and investigations company based in Brisbane -- with "public mischief while he was employed as a security consultant by New Zealand Rugby." It is believed Gard "has worked for the All Blacks as a security consultant for 10 years whenever they have toured Australia." Gard "did not return calls," however, his brother Ashley, who is the director of BGI Security -- "the company Adrian also works for in the operations department and the company used by the All Blacks -- refused to comment when contacted on Tuesday, saying the matter was in the hands of lawyers." All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen described the charge as "bizarre and unbelievable." Gard "will appear in Waverley Local Court on March 21, charged with public mischief." The motives behind his actions are "unclear" (SMH, 2/7). In London, Mike Hytner reported Australian Rugby Union CEO Bill Pulver "has reacted with relief to the news" that police have charged a man. The "finger of blame was never officially pointed at the Wallabies" and, at the time, Pulver said it was “completely ludicrous” to suggest the ARU had any involvement in the planting of the device. Six months on, Pulver "was still upset at the lapse in time between the discovery of the device and the reporting of it to police," a delay of five days that Hansen explained by claiming the team’s management "decided it was best to wait until the arrival" of New Zealand Rugby Union CEO Steve Tew, who was traveling to Sydney from the Rio Olympics. Pulver: "The aspect that still leaves a bitter taste out of this whole affair is that the discovery of the device was reported publicly on game day, when it is understood that the alleged discovery of the device occurred much earlier in the week" (GUARDIAN, 2/7). The LONDON TIMES reported Bodyguards Int'l "has worked for the All Blacks in Australia" for more than 10 years and has had other high-profile clients, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Tiger Woods and Oprah Winfrey. Gard could face up to 12 months in prision if convicted (LONDON TIMES, 2/7).
