Australian police say they have charged a man in connection with a bug placed in a New Zealand meeting room ahead of an international rugby union clash.
Police said the 51‑year‑old had been employed as a security consultant, but gave no further details.
However, New Zealand coach Steve Hansen says the man had worked for the All Blacks for a long time and was "trusted and well‑respected".
The discovery of what was described as a sophisticated listening device in the All Blacks' team meeting room in a Sydney hotel ahead of the first Bledisloe Cup match between the New Zealanders and Australia's Wallabies in August 2016 made headlines across both nations.
Reports at the time said that the device, hidden in a chair, was working and would have transmitted conversations about the All Blacks' strategy for the match.
