John Spencer’s “unsavoury” incident with a drunken diner in Auckland late on Thursday night is “disappointing” but an “isolated incident”, British and Irish Lions assistant coach Rob Howley has said.

The Lions’ tour manager was enjoying a meal at The Depot in the Viaduct area in Auckland on Thursday with his wife and a family friend when he was confronted by a member of the public. It’s claimed that the man in question asked for a photograph and, after having it declined, he proceeded to verbally abuse Spencer and those with him before allegedly pushing him.

“It was an unsavoury incident, with a drunken man who came over to our table and verbally abused a member of my family,” the 69-year-old Spencer said. “I asked him to go away but he continued, so I stood up and he pushed me before his wife came over and took him away.”

Spencer was not wearing any Lions’ branded clothing, although a friend sitting at the table was wearing a Lions shirt.

“It obviously was not very nice. However, I must stress that it was an isolated thing because the welcome here all round New Zealand has been exceptional.”

Spencer’s comments were echoed by Howley, with the attack coach confirming that he had spoken to the former England captain about the incident and was keen to stress that this was the first time that any trouble has arisen on the tour.

“I spoke to John, it's an isolated, disappointing incident,” Howley said on Friday. “We've had a fantastic welcome, the New Zealand public have been fantastic with their welcome.

“Unfortunately in sport there's always a minority, it's not the majority, but the experiences and welcomes we've had have been quite unbelievable. The New Zealand public have embraced us.

“It was only last night we went out to the Viaduct as a squad and management and we had a lot of Kiwis coming up to us. Yes there's been banter but that's all part of it.

“But coming back to John, it's an isolated incident, and it's the minority, not the majority.”

The Lions do have security to guard the squad and management on excursions away from The Pullman Hotel, where the squad have stayed throughout their three trips to Auckland so far, but given the warm reception that they have received, their presence has not been felt that much over the last three and a half weeks.