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Associated Press

New Zealand scrum-half Aaron Smith has pulled out of the Bledisloe Cup test against Australia on Saturday after being found guilty of serious misconduct by a New Zealand Rugby employment panel.
Smith missed New Zealand’s final Rugby Championship test against South Africa a week ago because a one-match ban imposed by senior team-mates for toilet tryst with a woman in an airport toilet on September 18.
An employment hearing conducted by New Zealand Rugby (NZR) on Monday found Smith guilty of serious misconduct and issued him with a formal warning and he then decided to withdraw from the weekend test at Auckland’s Eden Park.
“In light of the impact on the reputation of All Blacks jersey and the commercial partners Aaron’s actions amounted to serious misconduct,” NZR said in a statement after the player faced a two-hour disciplinary hearing.

NEWS: Aaron smith voluntarily stands down from this Saturday's Bledisloe Test v Australia.
MORE: https://t.co/qGqC4TFUHE pic.twitter.com/zxJIXhe77X
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) October 17, 2016

“He will voluntarily stand down from assembling with the All Blacks for this weekend’s Bledisloe Cup test match.”
Smith will also be issued an official warning and forfeit his “selection fees”, the statement added.
“Aaron presented himself as genuine, honest and incredibly remorseful,” NZR General Manager Rugby Neil Sorenson, who chaired the disciplinary panel, said.
“We have also taken into account the fact that the very public nature of this incident, has had a significant impact on him personally.”
World Cup winner Smith has been a regular for the All Blacks in the last three seasons and has earned 54 caps since making his debut in 2012.
The scandal, which broke earlier this month, caused a media storm in rugby-mad New Zealand, with Prime Minister John Key weighing into the controversy.


‘Stop whining,’ New Zealand’s Steve Hansen tells Australian counterpart Michael Cheika

New Zealand overcome Australia in Bledisloe Cup for record 18th straight test triumph

Quade Cooper dropped as Australia try to stop all-conquering All Blacks

‘Focused’ All Blacks won’t be distracted by Australia in world record bid

The Rugby Championship 2016

New Zealand’s Aaron Smith withdraws from Bledisloe Cup test against Australia after sex scandal guilty verdict

Aaron Smith runs against South Africa during a Rugby Championship test match in September. Photo: AP

Down the toilet: All Blacks drop Aaron Smith over illicit airport bathroom encounter

Aaron Smith has been banned by the New Zealand Rugby Union. Photo: AFP

All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith runs with the ball against South Africa during the Rugby Championship test match between New Zealand and South Africa, in Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday Sept. 17, 2016(Brett Phibbs/New Zealand Herald via AP)

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen puts Aaron Smith on bench for rule breach

Aaron Smith (right)

All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith commits to playing in New Zealand until 2019

Highlanders scrum-half Aaron Smith (centre) has signed a four-year contract extension with New Zealand Rugby, boosting All Blacks stocks beyond the upcoming Rugby World Cup. Photo: AFP

The All Blacks have retained Aaron Smith (rear) but are expecting captain Richie McCaw (right) to bow out after the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Photo: Reuters

Battle of scrum-halves Aaron Smith and Fourie du Preez key to All Blacks-Springboks showdown

New Zealand scrum-half Aaron Smith at a team training session in Sunbury-on-Thames, west of London. Photo: AFP

South Africa's Bryan Habana is level with All Black Julian Savea on the number of tries in a single World Cup - eight - which matches Jonah Lomu's. Photo: AP 

South Africa's scrum-half Fourie du Preez stretches during the captain's run at Twickenham on Friday. Photo: AFP

New Zealand's Julian Savea (above) is gunning for the record number of tries scored in a single World Cup, as is South Africa wing Bryan Habana (below). Going into Saturday's semi-final, the pair are tied on eight with All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu. Photos: AP and AFP

Disgraced Aaron Smith out as All Blacks make four changes for Springboks test

Waisake Naholo in action against Wales at Eden Park in Auckland in June 2016. Photo: AFP

Sport

Rugby

The scrum-half is convicted of serious misconduct by a New Zealand Rugby employment panel over his tryst with a woman in a public toilet


New Zealand scrum-half Aaron Smith has pulled out of the Bledisloe Cup test against Australia on Saturday after being found guilty of serious misconduct by a New Zealand Rugby employment panel.
