Security guard Gard is back on the job for the All Blacks.
You read correctly. That’s security guard Gard.
You may recall an incident from last year when Gard discovered a secret listening device hidden in a chair in the meeting room of the Sydney hotel room where the ABs were staying.
Gard was recently seen with the team in Brisbane, where they plan to play against the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
Any who plan on taking the match in would be well advised to have a look under their seat.
Gard was observed wearing an earpiece and talking with a team staff member.
NSW police last year accused Gard of making the whole thing up, sort of a Kiwi version of fake news. The Magistrate of the Downing Centre Court released Gard because there did not seem to be enough evidence to support the charges.
He was busted, however, for being a security consultant lacking the correct documentation, after which he was released on a one-year good behaviour bond.
Gard allegedly found the alleged bug on August 15 of 2016, meaning that if has been good since then he is free to behave in any fashion he chooses, which we hope will continue to be of the good variety. In other words, we hope that his behaviour during the one-year bond was guarded.
At the time, Gard had many people vouch for his reliability, including Kieran Read, AB Coach Steve Hansen and Mal Meninga.
Following Gard’s semi-acquittal last year, New Zealand Rugby chief exec Steve Tew told the media that Gard was eligible to continue working for the All Blacks, but ultimately left the decision up to manager Darren Shand. He did not seem to attach any provisions to Gard’s eligibility, but we hope that Gard has learned his lesson and obtained the proper license, because there is nothing worse than an improperly documented security guard Gard.