A Whangārei builder has been outed as the man who rushed naked on to the field during the Women's Rugby World Cup quarterfinal. Security brought the man's pitch invasion to a crashing halt when one of the guards successfully tackled him to the ground. In a comment responding to a Tweet by freelance sports reporter, producer and presenter, Laura-Jane Jones, Burford called the man's actions "vile". A Rugby World Cup 2021 spokesperson told the outlet precautions were taken to prevent security breaches "however in this rare instance we were unable to stop a pitch invader from accessing the field." "It is disappointing that, despite efforts to ensure Rugby World Cup 2021 provides a family-friendly and inclusive match-day experience, the actions of an individual has drawn attention away from the incredible display of women's rugby we witnessed during the quarterfinals."

Source: New Zealand Herald November 03, 2022 14:23 UTC