A leading security consultant believes the Jesse Ryder incident shouldn't stop high-profile sportspeople socializing in public.
Jayson Ryan's company, Ryan Security, has provided security services to the All Blacks since 2004. He's also worked with the Black Caps and assisted the All Whites during a tour to Jordan before the 2010 World Cup finals.
Ryan has been a security industry operative for two decades and for years ran match-day security at Lancaster Park.
He's worked in some hotspots around the world and reckons "99 per cent" of New Zealanders are "very respectful" of sports stars and celebrities.
"They've got good security and are run by good operators. That's the sort of thing we'd look for when we are sending our people out. We're looking for the well-run establishments with good facilities in place and have good people running the establishment. You know they are of genuine standing.
In a sports-obsessed nation of 4.5 million, New Zealand's top athletes effectively live in a goldfish bowl, especially the All Blacks, who have the highest domestic profile.
Jonah Lomu, the All Black with the greatest overseas profile, had to travel to the United States to get the anonymity he craved. Richie McCaw is probably experiencing the same freedom now on his extended OE which has taken him so far to the US and Sri Lanka, hardly rugby hotbeds.
Anton Oliver quipped upon becoming All Blacks captain in 2001 that he didn't expect to be hassled about his new-found status by his fellow Otago University undergraduates because students were too cool to bother an All Black on campus.
But sportspeople now are no different to their predecessors. Most still like to go out for an after-match ale to nightspots where other young people are present.
The difference between now and the amateur era is the bars are open much later so the potential for confrontation is greater. And in the social media age, any incident, serious or trivial, involving a high-profile sportsperson or celebrity, rapidly becomes public.
So risk management becomes important. That's where people like Jayson Ryan step in.
He's worked with the All Blacks for 10 seasons now, since the new management regime headed by Graham Henry and Darren Shand came in, in 2004.
The All Blacks management have talked openly about changing the drinking culture in the group while still treating players as adults and allowing them to celebrate when appropriate.
If an All Black crosses the line, there are repercussions. Outside backs Israel Dagg and Corey Jane were roundly rebuked by management after being caught drinking in a Takapuna bar 72 hours before the 2011 World Cup quarterfinal. Senior halfback Piri Weepu went out to fetch them and order them back to the team hotel.
The team's senior leadership group basically decides whether the players will go out publicly after a test match and where they can go.
That's based on information provided by Ryan and his staff, who scout potential venues to make sure they're safe environments.
Security staff will go out with groups of All Blacks.
Players are taught to look out for certain things when they enter an establishment, to find out where the exits are and know how they can get out of a place so you're not going to get caught up in any trouble.
Most people approaching a sportsperson in public want to pat them on the back and rub shoulders with them.
Jayson Ryan's company, Ryan Security, has provided security services to the All Blacks since 2004. He's also worked with the Black Caps and assisted the All Whites during a tour to Jordan before the 2010 World Cup finals.
Ryan has been a security industry operative for two decades and for years ran match-day security at Lancaster Park.
He's worked in some hotspots around the world and reckons "99 per cent" of New Zealanders are "very respectful" of sports stars and celebrities.
"They've got good security and are run by good operators. That's the sort of thing we'd look for when we are sending our people out. We're looking for the well-run establishments with good facilities in place and have good people running the establishment. You know they are of genuine standing.
In a sports-obsessed nation of 4.5 million, New Zealand's top athletes effectively live in a goldfish bowl, especially the All Blacks, who have the highest domestic profile.
Jonah Lomu, the All Black with the greatest overseas profile, had to travel to the United States to get the anonymity he craved. Richie McCaw is probably experiencing the same freedom now on his extended OE which has taken him so far to the US and Sri Lanka, hardly rugby hotbeds.
Anton Oliver quipped upon becoming All Blacks captain in 2001 that he didn't expect to be hassled about his new-found status by his fellow Otago University undergraduates because students were too cool to bother an All Black on campus.
But sportspeople now are no different to their predecessors. Most still like to go out for an after-match ale to nightspots where other young people are present.
The difference between now and the amateur era is the bars are open much later so the potential for confrontation is greater. And in the social media age, any incident, serious or trivial, involving a high-profile sportsperson or celebrity, rapidly becomes public.
So risk management becomes important. That's where people like Jayson Ryan step in.
He's worked with the All Blacks for 10 seasons now, since the new management regime headed by Graham Henry and Darren Shand came in, in 2004.
The All Blacks management have talked openly about changing the drinking culture in the group while still treating players as adults and allowing them to celebrate when appropriate.
If an All Black crosses the line, there are repercussions. Outside backs Israel Dagg and Corey Jane were roundly rebuked by management after being caught drinking in a Takapuna bar 72 hours before the 2011 World Cup quarterfinal. Senior halfback Piri Weepu went out to fetch them and order them back to the team hotel.
The team's senior leadership group basically decides whether the players will go out publicly after a test match and where they can go.
That's based on information provided by Ryan and his staff, who scout potential venues to make sure they're safe environments.
Security staff will go out with groups of All Blacks.
Players are taught to look out for certain things when they enter an establishment, to find out where the exits are and know how they can get out of a place so you're not going to get caught up in any trouble.
Most people approaching a sportsperson in public want to pat them on the back and rub shoulders with them.
RSS Feed