Photos: ABs welcomed home
Video: ABs return homeKEY POINTS:
All Black management will take disciplinary action against Doug Howlett, following his drunken bout of vandalism in London, which could mean a fine or even cancellation of his contract.
But team manager Darren Shand denies Howlett's actions are indicative of a drinking culture in the All Blacks.
Shand said he was "gutted" by Howlett's actions.
In a video-taped apology, the All Blacks top try-scorer has taken full responsibility after being arrested for allegedly damaging two vehicles by jumping on them, near Heathrow Airport on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old was among a number of All Blacks remaining in Europe after the team's Rugby World Cup quarterfinal loss to France, and had been drinking with fellow All Blacks and nine members of the team management.
Howlett said: "I'm embarrassed that the events of one evening have led to me being in this situation. It was a little bit of tomfoolery that has caused me to be here".
"It's an embarrassing time but I do take sole responsibility. There was drink involved, and it's not an excuse."
Howlett is due to take up a 2 1/2-year role with Irish club Munster in January, but his New Zealand contract does not expire until the end of this year.
At a media conference today, Shand said Howlett was going to "follow up with the owners of the cars to sort that side of it out".
"From a New Zealand rugby perspective, we are going to wait until that is completed, and police have closed down that side of the investigation, and then we will go into our own internal process on a misconduct scale and determine where we would see things."
Howlett could face penalties ranging from counselling, to a financial penalty, suspension, to termination of his contract.
Shand said it was extremely disappointing that Howlett's actions came as All Blacks coach Graham Henry was praising the players for being great role models.
"I'm gutted really. It's something we don't expect of an All Black. Particularly a player of his reputation and experience. You are an All Black 24-7."
In the past, the All Blacks have been criticised for having a boozy culture in the team.
But Shand said: "I don't think there is a problem. I think this group made significant sacrifices over and above what I have seen groups make in my 10 years in this role."
"I think the culture has changed immeasurably. I think there has been a paradigm shift from when I started. You will always get isolated incidents from time to time, and I believe most of them now are isolated rather than on the scale they have been previously."
Howlett said there had not been any intention to cause "anybody or anything any harm whatsoever".
Howlett is continuing to travel with his fiance and three-month-old son for the next couple of weeks.
He is due to take up a 2 1/2-year role with Irish club Munster in January.
It has also reported today that he and some team mates ran up a $33,000 tab in the hotel's foyer bar before the incident.
His arrest on suspicion of criminal damage followed a late-night incident at the team hotel at Heathrow Airport in which cars were damaged.
A hotel staff member told Britain's Daily Telegraph: "There were about five to seven players drinking in the bar. They looked as if they were pretty down in the dumps after they lost and they ran up 12,500 pounds bar bill over several hours.
"It wasn't just them, it was other members of the squad as well and it included food. They were behaving themselves while they were in the bar, but then for some reason, a couple of them decided to go outside and that was where it all kicked off."
Howlett said drink was involved but this was not an excuse and assured people there was no intention to cause harm to anyone or any property.
He is now talking to police about fixing up the damage to the cars.
Howlett added: "I apologise to the people back home, family and friends, the New Zealand public, fans, my teammates."
Sky TV commentator Tony Johnson said the bar tab is not as bad as it sounds.
"If there was a group of 25 people at the Hilton Hotel in Heathrow, you'd be surprised how quickly you could run up a bill like that," he said.
Johnson said Howlett appears to be very intelligent and articulate and the London incident was probably a situation which got out of hand as a result of alcohol.
However, Newstalk ZB's Murray Deaker has a different view about the bar tab.
"I'll tell you what, $31,000 for a bar tab! I've hung some good ones on me at times! I'd hate to think what they'd have spent if they had actually won," he said.
Shocked father Simon Howlett said last night that his son took full responsibility for his actions and intended to pay for the damage. He said then that alcohol might have been involved.
Mr Howlett said he and wife Phoebe were upset about what their son had done. "We're shattered, we're disappointed but we feel sorry for him and the people that he's let down."
The 29-year-old winger was arrested early on Tuesday (UK time) after damaging two vehicles outside the Hilton Hotel at Heathrow Airport.
Reports suggested Howlett was jumping on the cars.
He was taken to Heathrow police station and was released without charge.
All Blacks manager Darren Shand said the NZRU would conduct its own investigation into the incident.
Speaking to the Herald yesterday outside the family home in Mt Roskill, Simon Howlett said his son told him he had caused body damage to two cars.
"Doug is very, very apologetic about what happened. He's upset. He realised what he's done and regrets it. He takes full responsibility. He wants to tell all of New Zealand and the Rugby Union that he is very sorry about everything that's happened."
His son had not been lashing out over the All Blacks' quarter-final loss to France at the rugby World Cup on Sunday, Mr Howlett said. "Definitely not, and he told me that. He said he was in good spirits."
Mr Howlett was unsure whether alcohol was involved. "There may have been drink involved, he was probably in that kind of environment, but I don't want to speculate."
Mr Howlett said his wife and Monique Everard, his son's partner, were in Europe and would be supporting Doug. The player's 3-month-old son Charles was also there.
The family were waiting for the owners of the cars to get in touch to see what the extent of the damage was.
Howlett, NZ's leading test try scorer, will return home at the end of the month after "sorting out business" with Irish rugby club Munster, which he will join in January on a 2 1/2-year deal, Mr Howlett said.
Mr Shand said Howlett was the only All Black involved in the incident.
"We are waiting for the police to conclude their inquiries. Once that occurs, we will initiate our own process to look into the incident and related issues."
Most of the 30-man All Black squad arrived in Christchurch yesterday morning.
Apparently unaware of Howlett's indiscretion, coach Graham Henry gave a glowing report of his team's behaviour during their tour.
"I'm very proud of how they conducted themselves as people.
"They're marvellous role models for this country. They put this country on the map right around the world and they touched a lot of people," Henry said.
"A number of people have said to me what a tremendous group of young men you've got there - during the World Cup and previous tours.
"It's been phenomenal. They believe they're the best young sporting team that ever stays in their hotels, the most open and friendly and easy to get along with."
A Scotland Yard spokesman said police received reports of a disturbance outside the Hilton Hotel at 3am on Tuesday.
Howlett was taken into custody on suspicion of causing criminal damage to two motor vehicles but later released on bail.
The spokesman would not reveal the nature of the bail conditions but said Howlett would have to return to the police station later in the month.
Hilton general manager Dargmar Muhle said no hotel property was damaged. She said that apart from the Howlett incident, the All Blacks had been "model" guests.
