Jacinda Ardern leaves her colleague red-faced with a stinging comeback after he mocked her rugby team’s loss in front of a sellout stadium in NZ
- Jacinda Ardern and Finance Minister Grant Robertson jokingly fought on Twitter
- Ms Ardern’s favourite rugby team the Chiefs lost to the Highlanders 28-27
- Mr Robertson gloated about his team’s win on social media on Saturday night
- But Ms Ardern quickly reminded the finance minister who runs the country in
Jacinda Ardern and the New Zealand Finance Minister got into a jovial Twitter fight after the prime minister’s favourite rugby team lost in front of a sold-out crowd.
More than 22,000 fans filled Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday night to watch the Highlanders defeat the Hamilton-based Chiefs 28-27.
Following the nail-biter, Super Rugby’s Twitter shared a photo of Finance Minister Grant Robertson – clad in his Highlanders jersey – celebrating the team’s victory.
Alongside a gleeful Mr Robertson was a photo of Ardern donning her Chiefs jersey.
‘Well this makes Monday’s cabinet meeting slightly awkward…,’ the post was captioned.
Following the nail-biter, Super Rugby’s official Twitter shared a photo of Mr Robertson – clad in his Highlanders jersey – celebrating the team’s victory alongside a photo of Ardern in her Chiefs garb
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s team the Chiefs lost to the Highlanders 28-27 on Saturday night
Mr Robertson commented on the photo, saying: ‘Not awkward at all (well for me anyway,’ along with three laughing emojis.
But Ms Ardern wasted no time in reminding the finance minister who runs the country.
‘I think you’re forgetting who chairs the meeting #LeaveTheScarfAtHome,’ she commented.
Mr Robertson, who is also part of Ardern’s Labour Party, continued the tit-for-tat, writing: ‘True that, mind you #TheNumbersDontLie (little finance minister humour for you there.’
Dozens of amused rugby fans commented on the two politicians’ banter.
‘I wish we had minsters/leaders like that in Scotland,’ one man wrote.
‘Just love a prime minister with a sense of humour,’ said another.
Social distancing and face masks weren’t required at the stadium, after New Zealand lifted all COVID-19 restrictions last week.
The nation has not reported any new cases of coronavirus for more than three weeks, and says all those who contracted the disease have now recovered.
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson last week said he was happy that sporting games could return to normal.
‘We’re incredibly proud, and grateful, to be the first professional sports competition in the world to be in a position to have our teams play in front of their fans again,’ he said.
On Saturday, 22,000 fans filled Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin to watch the Highlanders defeat the Hamilton-based Chiefs 28-27