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RUPA CEO Tony Dempsey announces investigation into Tuqiri sacking
By Ed Jackson
July 08, 2009
Player concerns have forced the Rugby Union Players' Association (RUPA) to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri's sacking.
RUPA chief executive Tony Dempsey says several senior Wallaby players, including captain Stirling Mortlock, were concerned by Tuqiri's sacking and want answers as to why his contract with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) was terminated.
Dempsey said the association had received sufficient evidence to raise concerns over whether the ARU's and New South Wales Rugby Union's conduct was a breach of the collective bargaining agreement those unions hold with RUPA.
"I have spoken to the captain of the Wallabies and many from the Wallabies team and they have genuine concerns about the manner in which Lote's sacking has been handled by the ARU and NSWRU," Dempsey said on Wednesday.
"An 'iron curtain' has descended on relations between the players and senior management of the ARU. Players feel fearful and intimidated of the ARU. We need to restore trust and credibility with the game's administrators."
Dempsey wouldn't reveal what evidence RUPA had been made aware of but denied he knew the full story behind Tuqiri's sacking.
He said the association had contacted the ARU to make them aware of the investigation but had been unable to speak to ARU chief executive John O'Neill.
Dempsey said he was not sure if the sacking related to a personal vendetta against Tuqiri but he hoped that wasn't the case.
The investigation will be headed up by a yet-to-be-named "high-profile" retired judge with Dempsey saying any evidence of a breach in the collective bargaining agreement would result in legal action by RUPA against the ARU.
Dempsey said he had no fears about such a move damaging relations between the players' association and the sport's governing body, claiming the lack of contact before Tuqiri's sacking highlighted an already poor relationship.
AAP
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23217,00.html