All Blacks rebuke Howlett over drunken episode

Munster-bound New Zealand wing Doug Howlett has been reprimanded over his drunken antics in London following the All Blacks’ exit at the World Cup.

The 29-year-old attended a misconduct meeting at the New Zealand Rugby Union to discuss his behaviour after the 20-18 defeat to France last month, which was deemed to amount to “serious misconduct”.

All Blacks manager Darren Shand expressed his disappointment over the incident but claimed the player had held his hands up and the matter was now closed.

“Doug faced intense public scrutiny over his behaviour and has faced up to his actions and made reparations,” Shand said in a statement on www.allblacks.com.

Shand said the NZRU had taken into account the circumstances of Howlett’s behaviour and the costs incurred by the player as well as his long and distinguished career and his imminent departure for Munster.

Howlett has received an “appropriate sanction” – the details of which are confidential – from the NZRU.