Umaga video bids top $5000

Bids for the latest "handbag" related memorabilia on internet auction site Trade Me continue to rise, as criticism of those accused of "cashing in" also increases.

At 8.45am today, a bid of $5000 was being offered for video footage of All Black Tana Umaga hitting teammate Chris Masoe with a handbag at a pub in Christchurch.

But the auction has also attracted negative reaction.

After objections were raised on Trade Me about the initial auction of the handbag and phone which fetched more than $22,000, the latest complainant said permission for the sale was required from everyone featured in the video.

"I think it would be wise for you to consult a lawyer who specialises in privacy laws before selling this item at auction so that you don't end up on the nasty side of a court case if someone in the footage decides to kick up a fuss," wrote Trade Me user "smeenz1" last night.

The grainy black and white footage is about 30 seconds long and shows Umaga playfully swatting Masoe with the handbag.

The couple auctioning the video - Ira and Brent McCully, co-owners of the Jolly Poacher bar where the incident happened - have withdrawn a section of the bar's carpet for sale.

The McCullys have said they will give a percentage any profits made to New Zealand Cancer Society.

The $30 vinyl handbag became famous when Umaga hit teammate Chris Masoe over the head with it at the Jolly Poacher early on Sunday morning, May 28, after the Hurricanes lost the Super 14 rugby final to the Crusaders.

Masoe hit a patron, and Umaga defused the situation by grabbing another patron's handbag and whacking him with it. The blow was enough to break a cellphone inside -- which was later replaced by Umaga.

This weekend, the handbag used by Umaga and the cellphone which was broken in the incident were sold for more than $22,000 to an unknown buyer.

- NZPA