Former All Black Robin Brooke has apologised for his inappropriate behaviour towards a 15-year-old girl in Fiji on New Year’s Eve.
He made a statement tonight after a meeting with the teenager and her family.
In the statement, Mr Brooke says he used the meeting to personally apologise to the victim and her family, and that his apology was accepted.
“As a result of that meeting I have agreed to certain conditions, at her request, to enable her to put this incident behind her,” he said.
The conditions asked that Brooke make a public apology, a donation of $3,000 to a charity of the teenager’s choice, reimburse her airfare and pay her family’s legal fees.
Brooke will also undergo counselling.
“I now wish to apologise publicly to her, and her family, for my behaviour in Fiji that night,” Brooke said.
“It was unacceptable and in no way provoked by her, or any other person.”
Mr Brooke says the day after the incident he “genuinely tried” to express to the teen his sincere regret for his actions.
“I can understand how upset she was.”
Mr Brooke says he hopes the meeting and his apology will bring closure to the girl and her family, over an incident of which he says he is “truly remorseful”.
The girl had said Mr Brooke twice grabbed her backside while she was pool-side at a resort at Denarau on New Year’s Eve.
The girl’s 17-year-old Australian friend, Jordan Whittaker, said Mr Brooke grabbed him by the throat and threatened him when he tried to intervene.
The Whittaker family have reportedly started civil proceedings against Mr Brooke.
3 News