INCOMING ULSTER coach Mark Anscombe has been drawn into a controversy in New Zealand involving a racist text message that was sent to Auckland Blues (Super 15) coach Pat Lam.
Anscombe has denied any involvement.
Former All Black Lam, who is of Samoan decent and captained Northampton to victory over Munster in the 2000 Heineken Cup final, received what is described in a New Zealand paper NZ Truth as “a vile text message.” The message referred to the Polynesian and Maori players in Lam’s backline in a racial and derogatory way.
The text message came from a phone belonging to the 2011 Auckland provincial (ITM Cup) coach and soon-to-be Ulster coach Anscombe. The 54-year-old, who has previously worked with current Ulster players John Afoa and Jared Payne, confirmed to the paper that the message had come from his phone, but denied that he was the person who sent it.
“It certainly wasn’t from me. Someone played a joke,” Anscombe told the publication. “I had a group of people here . . . my phone is always in the kitchen and someone sent something, which I quickly jumped onto.
“It was an embarrassing situation. Someone thought they were playing a prank over a few beers. Obviously, I didn’t see the humour in it. I texted Pat immediately.”
The former Tongan captain Willie Lose spoke on Radiolive NZ yesterday evening and defended Anscombe. “It was a sick joke,” said Lose. “The gutless idiot, whoever sent it will never be known. Mark Anscombe is certainly not like that.”
Anscombe was not available for comment late last night when telephoned at his home in New Zealand. Ulster Rugby declined to comment when contacted.
However, Anscombe told NZ Truth that he knew who sent the texts and that those responsible thought that at the time it was funny. He did not name the person or people responsible.
“I don’t think they realised . I think they thought it was sending to someone else. They were quite embarrassed over what they had done and where it went,” added Anscombe.
Racism has been an ugly sideshow to Auckland’s on-pitch difficulties this season. Last month postings on their own website’s message boards and other social media subjected Lam and Polynesian and Maori players in the squad to racist slurs. All Blacks Keven Mealamu, Ma’a Nonu, Isaia Toeava and Piri Weepu were among those targeted.
Last month Lam broke down at a press conference when he talked about the negative effect the racial abuse was having on his family.
Blues management, however, declined to release the comments that almost brought their coach to tears and deleted all traces from its website and social media pages.
Anscombe added that he did not take part in anything that could be considered racist nor did he in any way support any kind of racist behaviour. “ something that I didn’t do, something I don’t condone. I know Pat quite well. I was quite embarrassed by the whole situation,” he said.
Anscombe’s 21-year-old son Gareth plays for the Blues. Mark Anscombe takes up the position of Ulster coach next season.
