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Super Rugby Pacific

'I don’t think I was milking it': Cameron Roigard reacts to quick-tap incident

Henry Lee

Published: 14 June 2026 17:00 PDT
Updated: 14 June 2026 21:52 PDT

RUGBYU-SUPER-NZL-BLUES-HURRICANES Hurricanes Cam Roigard looks to evade Blues Beauden Barrett during the Super Rugby Pacific semi-final match between the Wellington Hurricanes and Auckland Blues in Wellington on June 13, 2026. (Photo by Grant Down / AFP via Getty Images)

All Blacks halfback Cameron Roigard has responded to social media discussion around his incident with Blues first-five Beauden Barrett.

Roigard was taken out in the air by Barrett while taking a high-ball catch during the first half, before the halfback took the opportunity to take a quick tap and burst through a gap in the Blues’ defence.

The Hurricanes halfback was influential in their 57-21 victory over Vern Cotter’s Blues on Saturday night, clinching the side’s first Super Rugby Pacific final appearance since the 2016 grand final against the Lions.

VIDEO

Speaking to Jason Pine on Weekend Sports on Newstalk ZB, Roigard explained the play from his perspective.

“I’m probably not the one who’s meant to be taking the high ball so it was kind of going straight on my head so I wasn’t able to jump square and into Baz, so I fell a bit ugly,” Roigard told Pine on Newstalk ZB.

“When something like that happens, there’s usually a fight or a bit of a push-and-shove kind of thing. So I was just waiting for that and making sure I was all good, because you never know if you fall funny.”

After the collision in the air, Barrett went to check on the Hurricanes’ halfback, while there was some minor push and shoving going on around referee Ben O’Keeffe.

The All Blacks No.9 then tapped the ball while the Blues players were still retreating, using the opportunity to get his side on the front foot.

“Ruben Love was asking for the ball so I was like that must mean something’s on so I got up, had a look, and no one was in the middle so I thought I might as well just go.

“I don’t think I was milking it. I know everybody’s having a crack online, but it is what it is. To be fair, if I stayed down or didn’t take the quick tap, he might have gotten a yellow card anyway. It’s not here nor there, but I don’t regret it. It is what is it. It’s footy.”

“To be fair, if he didn’t take me out in the air I’d have nothing to milk. I thought I’d just get on with the game and people are complaining. That’s up to them, it’s been and gone now.”

Former England halfback Ben Youngs was one of the first players to react to the incident, saying there’s “no place” for this in Rugby.

Comments

23 Comments

GRB13 44 days ago

Of course he was milking it. Rugby players are just going down the soccer players route now.

PickOllieMathisOrKeepLosing,Rob. 44 days ago

Heads up footy from Roids, good stuff. Blues can go cry if they want but they’d be better off working on their D.

Bazzallina 44 days ago

Cam is on the ground smiling at Beaudy as I saw it having a laugh between each other

DC 45 days ago

well good on cam making the most of the oppertunity beauden was lucky not getting a yellow card and the referee was right there at the time

Hammer Head 45 days ago

Nick White the Second.

B 45 days ago

Cam Roigards eyes had the “milking it” look and he got away with it…

Not a good look from our Number 1 AB‘s halfback…but save those up for the 2027 Mens RWC Final…

JW 45 days ago

I like how you admittedly take it every day of the week for a rwc final. If yuo were SAn you’d still be denying it what, 3 years later now is it?

Andrew Nichols 45 days ago

LOL He then pretty much goes and admits it.

BH 45 days ago

It isn’t “footy” though. Rugby union prides itself on being a class above all other sports in history, by encouraging respect, class, grace and humility towards other players, teams, coaches, and the officials. The sport and its participants especially thinks it’s above rugby league and soccer/football where this kind of behaviour is more common.

This incident flies directly in the face of that. So it makes the whole sport look hypocritical. If we didn’t have that type of attitude, then fine guys, go ahead and pull Hollywood acts and do everything you can to win. But it’s the hypocrisy for me, and the fact that Roigard took advantage of the Blues’ players genuine concern for his health and wellbeing, that makes this turn into a complete sh*tshow.

O’Keefe and the TMO also failed by not yellow carding Beauden Barrett too by the way.

Bazzallina 44 days ago

You mean like back in the good old days when ya nutz would get grabbed props would let a punch go at the first scrum dudes would ruck the crap out of ya back when you were trapped etc etc I’m not necessarily saying what Cam did was fune but watch it again he doesn’t necessarily fake injury but more rugby has always had stuff that don’t uphold the “values”

JW 45 days ago

Rugby union prides itself on being a class above all other sports in history

Explain none of the Blues getting back 10m and instead looking for a fight then.

by encouraging respect, class, grace and humility towards other players, teams, coaches, and the officials..

..Roigard has sent them all a good lesson.

But it’s the hypocrisy for me, and the fact that Roigard took advantage of the Blues’ players genuine concern for his health and wellbeing

I thought that might have been the case too, but on replay only Christie and Beauden, they two closest to him, even seemed to pay any attention to Cam. Which is funny, because if they had of been concerned and paying attention to him, they might have seen the look on his face change and have reacted faster!

Also, Cam landed on his side, not back or neck.

JW 45 days ago

Haha that’s exactly what I thought had happened too, you could see the exchange.

I agree with Breakdowns take (though perhaps they mistakenly focus on Cam) that the ref shouldn’t allow the opposition to be taken advantage of like that, when showing concern for a player on the ground (I haven’t specifically watch a reply to confirm that’s what they were doing though). Ref should have blown it back to be retaken.

JW 45 days ago

Actually just replaying the game it doesn’t look like anyone was concerned with anything other than a ruckus. They were just lazy, well done by the ref.

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