NZR condemns player conduct
The sex-video scandal has now drawn sharp admonishment from New Zealand Rugby (NZR), which denounced the behaviour as "completely unacceptable" and promised to take further action region-wide.
"We will be working with Otago Rugby Football Union and Green Island Rugby Club to ensure this does not happen again," general manager of community rugby Steve Lancaster said.
Coach of the Green Island Rugby Football Club's Premier 2 team — nicknamed "The Battlers" — Stu Turner earlier told the Otago Daily Times the two men would play in this weekend's semifinal against Harbour, but yesterday a club spokesman confirmed the duo had been stood down for the rest of the season.
"Firstly, we want to make it absolutely clear that the behaviour reported is completely unacceptable. Our thoughts are firmly with the victim and their whānau during what is undoubtedly a deeply distressing time," the spokesman said.
"Green Island has stood the player in question down and he will not be taking the field for the remainder of the season. While we are aware of the comments made by the coach in the media, we wish to clarify that the committee makes decisions of this nature, and we have acted accordingly.
"We are aware of a related incident and a second player was before the courts today. We have taken action and stood down this player also."
Oliver Bugden, 23, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday where he admitted charges of making and posting an intimate visual recording.
The pleas came on the back of his team-mate 24-year-old Thomas Ryan, a co-captain of the team, pleading guilty to identical charges last week.
Green Island Rugby Football Club is the reigning club of the year following 2024's annual NZR Awards.
Ryan and the teenage victim had consumed alcohol before returning to his home in the early hours of June 8, court documents said.
While in the bedroom, the defendant took out his cellphone and recorded a five-second video of the woman performing a sex act.
She was unaware of the filming and had not consented to it, police said.
Shortly afterwards, Ryan posted the clip to the team's Snapchat group, featuring more than 30 people.
"Up the battlers," his caption read.
Bugden had viewed the message and when he got back to the house he allegedly entered the bedroom with another associate of the team.
"[He] pulled the covers from her and filmed her naked breast and underwear before posting it on the same team Snapchat group," a police summary said.
The court heard yesterday there was a minor dispute in Bugden's summary of facts, which was expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.
The victim only discovered what had happened when a partner of one of the group members sent the video to associates who recognised her.
Mr Turner said the Snapchat group to which the footage was sent was made up of Green Island players, "a bunch of randoms ... and guys from other teams".
He described the defendants as "great guys" and put the crimes down to "a one-time drunken mistake, you know, it's really out of character for both of them".
The club spokesman yesterday acknowledged the "disappointment and concern this incident has caused our community".
In both cases the club was co-operating fully with the appropriate authorities.
"[We] will support any process necessary to ensure accountability and care.
"Green Island remains committed to the values that have long defined our club — respect, integrity, and responsibility. We are developing a plan to ensure our members are educated on how they can live up to the expectation to behave with integrity off the field."
Mr Lancaster said everyone deserved "respect, safety and freedom from abuse".
NZR extended its "thoughts to those impacted, acknowledging that incidents of this nature can have deeply distressing effects on individuals and whānau alike".
An Ōtepoti Communities Against Sexual Abuse spokesperson said it "condemns all forms of sexual violence and would condemn any organisation that elevated the reputation and wellbeing of perpetrators over that of survivors".
Counsel for both Ryan and Bugden requested no convictions be entered against their clients during their respective court appearances, indicating a discharge without conviction would be sought at sentencing.
Ryan is scheduled to be sentenced in October, Bugden in November.
rob.kidd@odt.co.nz
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