The fence which was crashed into early Sunday morning. Photo: RNZ / Lauren Crimp
The owner of a fence crashed into by a Hawke's Bay rugby player says the man was extremely apologetic when he knocked on his door on Monday morning.
Police arrested the 24-year-old and charged him with driving with excess breath alcohol after he crashed a car into a fence on the corner of Hunter Road and Te Awa Avenue in Napier around 3.30am Sunday.
The homeowner, who did not want to be named, said his wife heard the collision and got up to see what was going on.
"I just heard a few car doors closing and a bit of talking, but I just assumed that it was a party across the road and people leaving," he said.
"Then my wife came back and said, 'I think you need to get up'."
When they went outside, police and a tow truck had already arrived.
"We spoke to one of the passengers who was very apologetic," he said.
He only found out on Tuesday morning that a Magpies player was driving, saying, "We had no idea".
"The driver came round yesterday [Monday] morning and apologised, which we appreciated, but we weren't aware that it was anything to do with what had gone on with the Magpies."
News of the crash followed news the Ranfurly Shield was damaged during post-match celebrations over the weekend.
New Zealand Rugby are investigating after the shield was broken in two at a party, and photos circulated on social media of a white powder on the shield.
The man said the whole debacle was a shame.
"It's unfortunate that it's happened, but these things happen, and it sounds as though they're fronting to what went wrong, so, we'll just leave it at that."
He was in talks with his insurance company to organise repairs to the fence.
The driver has been summoned to appear in court and police are considering other driving charges in relation to the event.
