Vodafone may face penalties after Bledisloe streaker stunt

3.30pm

Vodafone Australia may be punished if they are found to have encouraged two streakers who interrupted Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup decider in Sydney.

The mobile phone company has apologised to the Australian Rugby Union after two naked men with the Vodafone logo painted on their backs bolted onto the field as All Black Andrew Mehrtens was about to attempt a second-half penalty kick.

Mehrtens missed the kick and the All Blacks went on to lose 14-16.

The streakers have been charged and Australian police said today they were investigating reports that Vodafone Australia managing director Grahame Maher had agreed to pay the streakers' fines.

The match was played at the recently renamed Telstra Stadium. Telstra is Vodafone's biggest rival in Australia.

Local police commander, Allan Wilson of the Flemington police, told the Australian Associated Press (AAP) that "the offence, if proven, could attract penalties".

He did not say charges would definitely be laid.

A Sydney newspaper says Mr Maher admitted a deal had been made with a streaker before the game.

The Daily Telegraph quotes Mr Maher as saying a man approached him last week saying he might pull an illegal stunt at the match which would give Vodafone publicity.

"We said whatever you want to do, if it is good for us we would love to be involved," he told the paper.

Mr Maher said he had agreed to pay any fines resulting from the publicity stunt but said he did not know ahead of the game what the stunt was.

Mr Maher told the paper that on reflection his actions were a mistake.

- HERALD STAFF