'Drunken' ex-All Black removed from plane

A former All Black was taken off an Air New Zealand flight in handcuffs after the captain radioed ahead about incidents on the plane, The Dominion Post reported today.

The former player flew from Auckland to Papeete, Tahiti, on Wednesday and on the way became "increasingly obnoxious", sources told the newspaper.

Crew refused to serve him more alcohol but he began roaming the cabin to take drinks from other passengers.

French military gendarmes met the plane at Papeete's Faa'a International Airport and the man was handcuffed.

He is understood to have been freed yesterday.

- NZPA