Graham Henry (AP)

Brisbane - CEO of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Steve Tew, says there will be "no spiteful" reaction from his organisation after a photographer deliberately exposed the All Blacks' game plans this week.

Christchurch-born photographer Scott Barbour, who now lives in Melbourne, supplied Getty Images with close- up photos of tactics being carried by All Blacks coach Graham Henry at training.

The photos were printed in several Australian newspapers and on the internet on Wednesday and Thursday.

Barbour has been banned by the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) from covering the All Blacks' Bledisloe Cup build-up after he deliberately exposed the team's game plan.

Getty Images is not allowed to send a replacement photographer to the team's remaining practice sessions in Melbourne ahead of Saturday's Tri-Nations match.

The NZRU has no power to deny Getty's access to Etihad Stadium as the match is under the jurisdiction of the Australian Rugby Union, though its representatives may be barred from covering next Saturday's trans-Tasman match in Christchurch.

On Wednesday night Tew, the NZRU chief executive, acknowledged the union had contacted the photo agency, which has a commercial agreement with the union and pay a licensing fee to be official photographers, to express their disappointment, but rejected reports they were talking to their lawyers.

"There is no suggestion we will take legal action. We will obligate our contract with them. There will be no spiteful reaction and people are not going to see a knee-jerk reaction."

However, it appears unlikely the NZRU will be keen to provide the agency with extra favours after this incident which has annoyed the All Blacks management. It could affect their relationship when the contract rolls over.

Barbour, a freelance photographer based in Melbourne, won the prestigious award in the sport category at the World Photography Awards at Cannes, France, this year. He started his career as a teenage freelancer for the Christchurch Mail.

Tew said there had been no discussions about revoking Barbour's media pass to cover future All Blacks trainings, although team manager Darren Shand on Wednesday hinted that the photographer might be blacklisted.

Shand on Thursday said photographers were not instructed on what to shoot at All Black sessions but it was "just commonsense" not to circulate the game plan.

"People's careers hinge on results," he said, adding that Barbour was no longer welcome at any of the team's media opportunities.

"This breach is disappointing but in the short term no harm has been done," Tew said. Although he added the incident was "not the end of the world", Tew said there was an element of trust when media attended trainings.

"We think it is important to be open. But at international level the margins that separate the teams are so marginal that the smallest thing can make a difference."

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans skirted the topic but quipped: "I understand it was a Kiwi photographer, so I do find that amusing."

Barbour could not be contacted for comment on Wednesday night.



The photo in question ... All Blacks coach Graham Henry holds his training notes. (File)