Blues and All Blacks superstar Beauden Barrett has hit out at the behaviour of Wellington rugby fans after the way he was received by the crowd in his return to the home of the Hurricanes franchise last weekend.
After playing nine seasons for the Hurricanes and leading the club to its first and only Super Rugby title in 2016, Barrett returned to Sky Stadium in Blues colours and was greeted by a chorus of booing every time he touched the ball.
Barrett told Newstalk ZB's D'Arcy Waldegrave that the inhospitable welcome has made him question how much local rugby fans actually appreciated his years as a star of the club.
"It makes you wonder doesn't it? How much you can do for a franchise and then be received like that.
"I give them the benefit of the doubt, it could have been booing with a smile on their face at the same time; but I see it as booing nonetheless."