Rugby team ordered off plane for pick-up attempt

The South Canterbury rugby team were booted off an Air New Zealand flight at the weekend for being rude to an attendant.

The team were flying home from Gisborne after beating East Coast in the Heartland Championship at Ruatoria when the attendant took exception to a player's comment and complained to the pilot, the Timaru Herald reported.

The team were then offloaded at Wellington and rescheduled to a later flight to Christchurch.

South Canterbury coach Ken Wills said the attendant had overreacted to a single comment.

"One of the guys was trying to use a pick-up line and exchange text numbers."

The comment was along the lines of "I like the way you walk".

Wills said the team had apologised and he was sure it would not happen again.

Air New Zealand declined to comment.

- NZPA