All Black Israel Dagg says the night he mixed a sleeping pill with alcohol during the 2011 World Cup was a stupid idea and a one-off.
Israel Dagg, left, after the All Blacks beat France to win the World Cup. Photo: AFP
Last week, the New Zealand Rugby Union admitted that the fullback and Cory Jane mixed the drugs with alcohol on an unauthorised night out, three days before the All Blacks' 2011 quarterfinal against Argentina.
On Monday, Dagg and Jane told media they had each taken a pill during a massage at the team's hotel in Auckland, had no intention of going out drinking and the next day had no memory of their escapade.
Dagg apologised for his actions and said he's had three years to learn from it.
"We were just in the hotel and we just took them. We didn't have any intentions to go to town and have a party and do what we did. But one thing led to another, and then I remember waking up and didn't even know we went to town and that's what happens. But it was a oncer, for sure."
Jane said it was frightening not being able to remember. "We just happened to go out quickly to get something to eat and they kicked in and we were on autopilot ... It's scary not knowing I did anything that night and I woke up and thought I had a brilliant sleep. I learnt my lesson."
Dagg said his teammates were extremely disappointed in the pair at the time.
The Rugby Union is surveying Super Rugby teams about their use of sleeping pills.
