Western Force's Matt Giteau to see out contract at the club

[lara93]

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...005403,00.html

Justin Chadwick

January 01, 2009 05:41pm

WALLABIES five-eighth Matt Giteau will play out the 2009 Super 14 season with the Western Force, ending months of speculation.
Giteau's future at the club was in question following the collapse of his lucrative third-party sponsorship deal with Firepower.

Giteau, who is contracted to the Force until the end of 2009, reportedly threatened to walk out on the club once his six-figure deal with Firepower fell through.

The 26-year-old was rumoured to be keen on a move back to the Brumbies in '09, while an offer worth almost $10 million from French club Bayonne also had Giteau thinking.

But a Western Force source revealed Giteau had now committed to staying with the Force for '09, with a formal announcement expected as early as Friday.

But the future of coach John Mitchell isn't as clear after he was placed on restricted duties following complaints from Western Force players and staff members.

The Force have set up an independent inquiry, led by retired WA Supreme Court Judge Robert Anderson QC, to investigate allegations against Mitchell of inappropriate behaviour towards employees.

Mitchell, who is contracted to the club until the end of 2011, will be present when the Force resume pre-season training on Monday.

But with Anderson's report not expected until mid-January, assistant coach John Mulvihill will continue to take charge of all sessions, with Mitchell to have limited contact with his players.
Giteau is not due back at pre-season training until January 12.

The Force are scheduled to meet the Crusaders in a warm-up clash in Perth on January 23.

[travelling_gerry]

Now waiting for someone to come in and say Rugby WA holding him against his will.

[jargan83]

anyone seen the movie "Fortress"?

That is the technology at work to keep Gits here. He cannot go beyond the touchlines of a Rugby field without exploding

[Unnamed Sauces]

EXCLUSIVE

Perth

January 2 2009, 10.48am

Unnamed sources have revealed that Matt Giteau is being held in Perth against his will.
It is understood that upon returning to Perth yesterday Matt was confronted with the following note on the front door of his house.






At first Matt dismissed the kidnap note knowing that his house was still there, but later realised that it was his new horse "Cats Diamond" that the note was referring to.


Matt Giteau has declined to comment further .

[KenyaQuin]

Sauce,

"D+J"..?? Or would that constitute defamation?

[blueandblack]

anyone seen the movie "Fortress"?

That is the technology at work to keep Gits here. He cannot go beyond the touchlines without exploding

or Wedlock two years before it.