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Wellington - New Zealand's Sports Minister said former All Black Andy Haden will remain an ambassador for the 2011 Rugby World Cup after accepting Haden's apology on Sunday for making "inappropriate" comments about Polynesians.
Haden provoked outrage in New Zealand after suggesting the successful Crusaders Super 14 side had race-based selection policies which involved recruiting only three "darkies".
Amid growing calls on talk radio and on Internet polls for his dismissal as an ambassador for next year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, Haden initially defended his unsubstantiated claim and the language he used.
The government was dragged into the row, leading to Sports Minister Murray McCully meeting Haden to discuss the issue.
McCully said Haden had apologised and "that addresses the key point of concern from the government's perspective."
Haden said in a statement he did not intend to cause offence but, in hindsight, it was obvious that offence had been caused.
"Several media outlets have today reported that I have apologised to those who were offended by my remarks. I wish to reiterate that apology more generally today," he said.
McCully said Haden's apology "addresses the key point of concern from the government's perspective" and he was satisfied to leave the issue there.
Haden played 41 Tests for the All Blacks between 1972 and 1985 and his role as an ambassador for Rugby World Cup 2011 is linked to trade, tourism, and investment opportunities surrounding rugby's showpiece event.
"I greatly value that contribution and trust it will be for this work, and not for the use of inappropriate language, that he comes to public attention in future," McCully said.
In his controversial allegation, the outspoken Haden claimed on a television sports show Wednesday that the Crusaders had set a limit of three non-white players.
"Once they've recruited three, that's it. That's their ceiling. Three darkies... no more," he claimed.
Haden didn't elaborate on why the quota was in place, other than saying the formula had worked for the Crusaders, the most successful franchise in Super rugby history.
Crusaders' chief executive Hamish Riach dismissed the accusations as untrue and led calls for Haden's dismissal as a Rugby World Cup ambassador.
The Crusaders have regularly fielded more than three Polynesian players.
