Rugby Championship
All Blacks suspend fireworks after haka accident
ESPN Staff
August 25, 2014
The All Blacks hold their haka poses unaware of the accident that occurred when a firework exploded © Getty Images
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New Zealand rugby chiefs have suspended all pre-match fireworks as officials investigate an accident before last weekend's Rugby Championship clash between the All Blacks and Australia.

New Zealand fan Cecilia Wang was taken to hospital with a gash to her head and two men suffered minor injuries when a fireball primed to go off after New Zealand's haka exploded with more force than anticipated, resulting in shrapnel being fired into the crowd.

Wang's husband Jimmy said passed out due to blood loss and that he was amazed no one was killed by the accident at Eden Park.

"She was just screaming and lost consciousness, she was pouring down with blood. I tried to hold her cut but the blood wouldn't stop, it was like opening tap water, it kept coming out," he told Fairfax New Zealand. "The piece of metal hit her glasses first and because of that it changed direction and just cut through her forehead."

New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew offered an apology to those injured by the pyrotechnics and announced a suspension of all fireworks at All Blacks games until an investigation is completed.

"You can consider fireworks currently suspended from anything we do and I just said to our provincial unions that I'll advise them to take the same approach," he said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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