VIDEO: Crusaders issue statement on Penney's foul-mouthed insult

REACTION: Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge has apologised for Rob Penney’s foul-mouthed insult about a TV reporter at a heated press conference.

The under-fire head coach was caught on microphone making an obscene comment about the journalist, who had grilled him on Wednesday about the Crusaders’ poor form and asked him if he would still be in charge next season.

After the end of the tetchy press conference in Christchurch on Wednesday, Penney told a member of the team’s media staff that the New Zealand journalist was “a disgrace” before using an obscenity.

Crusaders coach Rob Penney calling a journalist a c**t…#SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/3bwi9YWp7Q

— Tight Five Rugby (@TightFive_Rugby) May 22, 2024

“The Crusaders held a media conference on Wednesday for the purpose of naming our team for the week and discussing the upcoming fixture against the Blues,” said Mansbridge.

“A line of questioning was undertaken from a reporter present concerning Rob Penney’s future as Crusaders head coach.

“After the media conference had concluded, a private comment to a colleague was inadvertently recorded on third-party microphones, and Rob has since apologised to me for what was said.

“On behalf of the Crusaders organisation, I apologise for the comments he made regarding the reporter. I spoke to the reporter today and he has accepted our apology.”

The Crusaders won the title in each of the previous seven years under Penney’s predecessor, new All Black head coach Scott Robertson.

But they have lost 10 out of their 12 matches in this campaign.

Defeat at home to the table-topping Blues on Saturday would end their wafer-thin hopes of finishing in the top eight that make the play-offs.

Penny, 60, formerly coached in Ireland with Munster and also in Australia at the Waratahs, where he was sacked after losing his first five games in 2021.

Additional source: AFP