Lions tour manager John Spencer was verbally abused at a restaurant in Auckland. The former England captain was involved in an altercation after fans asked for a photograph.
The Telegraph reports that the incident took place at a restaurant called The Depot on Thursday night. A diner had asked Spencer for a photograph when another individual in the restaurant then became aggressive, verbally assaulting Spencer and pushing him.
Spencer responded by asking the man to leave. He described the altercation as 'unsavoury'.
It was an unsavoury incident, with a drunken man who came over to our table and verbally abused a member of my family. I asked him to go away but he continued, so I stood up and he pushed me before his wife came over and took him away.
Assistant coach Rob Howley said the incident as 'disappointing', after receiving such a warm welcome in New Zealand.
I've spoken to John, it's an isolated, disappointing incident. We've had a fantastic welcome, the New Zealand public have been fantastic with their welcome. Unfortunately in sport there's always a minority, it's not the majority, but the experiences and welcomes we've had have been quite unbelievable.
Howley has said that the incident was a once off, and the Lions will remain 'unfazed' and focused on their upcoming matches against the All Blacks.
