Westpac Stadium plans to have a streaker squad on duty on Saturday night to tackle any pitch invaders after a naked woman disrupted the All Blacks-Pumas test in Napier.
A team of six security guards, described by stadium boss Shane Harmon as a "dedicated pitch invasion squad", will be on hand at Saturday's test against the Springboks in Wellington.
They will be in addition to 35 regular guards on the field, and more manning the stairways.
Harmon has also called for tougher penalties to be meted out to streakers, saying they spoil the game and threaten player safety.
Rose Kupa, 25, who ran on to the field in Napier wearing nothing but a cellphone and wallet duct-taped to her leg, was given a pre-charge warning for disorderly behaviour and trespassed from McLean Park for two years.
"She got off very lightly, and it's not sending the right message," Harmon said.
He wanted streakers to be fined up to $5500, as they are by police in Australia. "I don't believe trespass notices are enough to deal with this issue."
Hawke's Bay Rugby Union chief executive Mike Bishop proposed a $10,000 fine as a realistic deterrent, saying Kupa's behaviour might have seemed amusing to many, but it could affect whether the region got to host another big game.
"The frustration I have is that our laws don't have enough teeth in them to discourage people from doing this sort of thing .
"An idiot like this will look at that [the level of punishment] and think ‘Well, I can't afford that'."
Last night New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew added his voice to the calls for tougher penalties. "While we would like a no-tolerance approach to dealing with this sort of illegal behaviour, particularly pitch invasions, we respect that this is a decision for police to make and manage," he said.
Kupa was unable to comment much yesterday, as she had a cold after her streak, and had lost her voice.
Meanwhile, All Black Aaron Cruden said security guards at Napier would have been more effective if they had worn rugby boots. The men struggled on the grass while trying to chase Kupa, he said. "A few of them were in sneakers and it was pretty slippery out there. Security is going to be a lot more aware and probably more on guard this week, hopefully."
