Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Photographer banned from All Blacks practice sessions

Updated at 8:31 am on 31 July 2010

The photographer who took the picture of the All Blacks' game plan at a training session has been banned from covering the remainder of the side's Bledisloe Cup Test buildup.

The New Zealand-born Scott Barbour took the photo of a sheet of paper coach Graham Henry was holding at a training ahead of the Test against Australia in Melbourne tonight.

The NZRU's official photo agency Getty Images, which employs Barbour as a freelancer, also angered All Blacks management after the photo was reproduced in Australia and New Zealand media outlets.

Getty Images wasn't allowed to send a replacement photographer to the team's remaining practice sessions in Melbourne.

The NZRU has no power to deny Getty's access to the Melbourne stadium as the match is under the jurisdiction of the Australian Rugby Union.

However its representatives may be barred from covering next Saturday's trans-Tasman match in Christchurch.

All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen described Barbour's actions as a breach of trust and he broke an unwritten rule by photographing the blueprint displaying moves from lineouts and scrums.

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