Hansen clarifies controversial domestic violence comments

REACTION: All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has clarified his recent comments about domestic violence after he was accused of trying to minimise the impact it had on women in New Zealand.

There has been plenty of controversy surrounding Sevu Reece’s selection for the All Blacks in the last few days. The Crusaders wing was charged with “male assaults female”, the New Zealand legal term for spousal abuse, after injuring his partner in a drunken assault last year.

Reece was not convicted because the judge who heard his case considered there were mitigating circumstances and a conviction would have a detrimental effect on his professional career.

While defending Reece, Hansen came under fire for saying that domestic violence is “not just restricted to males assaulting women”.

“Women assault males too. It’s not a gender thing, it’s a New Zealand problem,” Hansen told Jim Kayes on Radio Sport.

In a statement on Wednesday, Hansen attempted to clarify those comments.

“It has become clear that my comments have come across to some people as being unsympathetic or minimising how poisonous and harmful domestic violence is for women,” Hansen said.

“Nothing could be further from what I intended.”

“I get the fact that the vast majority of victims of domestic violence are women and children.

“That’s not in dispute and is plain wrong.”

The All Blacks open their Rugby Championship campaign against Argentina in Buenos Aires on July 20.

Sources: NZ Herald, Fox Sports & AAP