Sport's first sponsored streak

The world-beating Wallabies are wrestling with an embarrassingly phoney phenomenon - the first sponsored streak in international sport.

What seemed to be just another tedious strip during Australia's Tri-nations summit with New Zealand at Sydney's Stadium Australia has become a full-blown scandal following the startling admission from the chief executive of a mobile phone company that he knew of the streakers' plot.

So what? Well, Vodafone, the British-based company in question, just happens to sponsor the Wallabies - as well, incidentally, as the England cricket team and Manchester United.

Graham Maher, head of the firm's Australian arm, was warned yesterday that the company could face action over what police called an 'illegal stunt'.

Maher has admitted that he knew of a plan to disrupt the Wallaby-All Black Test, which was watched by close to 80,000 fans and had a global audience on satellite television. He said a man he knew only as 'Brett' had approached him saying he might pull a stunt which would give Vodafone publicity in a stadium that has been renamed after its rival, Telstra.

Maher revealed: ' We said, "Whatever you want to do, if it is good for us, we would love to be involved".'

Two streakers, wearing nothing but the company logo, ran on to the pitch, circling New Zealand stand off Andrew Mehrtens and forcing him to delay taking a penalty during a match which the All Blacks lost 16-14 to a penalty in the eighth minute of injury time.

Police said that 22-year- old Brett Mutton had been charged with three offences, including 'full and obscene exposure'.

He and the other streaker, 25- year- old New Zealander Aaron Bain, were charged with entering the playing field without permission, an offence which carries a maximum fine of almost £2,000.

Maher admitted yesterday that he told one of the streakers the company would pay any costs resulting from the stunt.

'He said he had some ideas about what he could do to get some international television exposure and if he did and it cost a fine, would I pay it? I said, "Sure". Lo and behold, it then happened. We apologise for the outcome.'

Neither the police nor the Australian Rugby Union was at all amused.

ARU general manager Brian Thorburn issued a statement which said: 'In this instance there has been an error of judgment in relation to a promotion and we have accepted an apology in that regard.

'We have not lost sight of the real culprits in this episode. The pair will be dealt with by the law.'

Vodafone could face what police superintendent Allan Wilson described as significant penalties. Wilson said: 'There are appropriate laws and penalties in relation to anyone who incites or encourages any criminal offences. We wish to have that as a deterrent in future.'

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