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Thread: Dempsey slammed for outing Mortlock in Tuqiri affair

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    Dempsey slammed for outing Mortlock in Tuqiri affair

    Wayne Smith | July 11, 2009

    Article from: The Australian

    ARU chairman Peter McGrath has expressed dismay that Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock was identified as being supportive of the Rugby Union Players Association moves to challenge the ARU's handling of Lote Tuqiri's dismissal.

    RUPA is to appoint a former judge to investigate Tuqiri's sacking last week, and has threatened to take legal action against the ARU if there is any evidence of either the collective bargaining agreement having been breached or of ARU chief executive having mounted a personal vendetta against the 67-Test Wallabies winger.

    RUPA chief executive Tony Dempsey, at a press conference on Wednesday, specifically named Mortlock as one of the senior Wallabies demanding some clarity about the circumstances of the dismissal.

    "I want to stress that the Wallaby captain Stirling Mortlock and the Wallabies are fully supportive of the action that RUPA is taking in this matter," Dempsey told the press conference. McGrath completely dismissed the suggestion that Mortlock might suffer some official retribution for his association with the RUPA action, but said it was astounding the Wallabies captain's name had been publicly dragged into the matter.

    "You would never see a trade union official embroil a member like that," McGrath said. "Tony actually demonstrated he's not an industrial relations negotiator. People handle things in different ways and I accept that. But it's a very unusual approach.
    "Stirling is a rugby player of great note and the Australian captain. We all need to be very careful about what is said."

    McGrath admitted he was surprised at the vehemence of Dempsey's attack on the ARU, in particular his comments that there was a feeling of fear and intimidation in the Wallabies camp, and that RUPA's investigation of the Tuqiri dismissal would not damage relations with the ARU because they were already in terrible shape.

    The ARU boss said he was attempting to arrange a meeting with RUPA president Rod Kafer to try to work through differences.

    "If there has been a deterioration then we need to address it," he said.

    McGrath said, while he had not discussed with O'Neill RUPA's complaint, that if an atmosphere of fear and mistrust had developed within the Wallabies, he was intent on lowering the players' level of concern. "We will do whatever we need to do to calm that situation," McGrath said. "It's just fanciful to suggest people's contracts are put at risk.

    "Let's see what the (Wallabies) coach and manager decide is necessary. We will work collaboratively on this to make sure the Wallabies are in the best possible shape they can be to take on the All Blacks."

    Ironically, the RUPA press conference was held at the same time as an unscheduled ARU board meeting at which directors endorsed O'Neill's handling of the matter.

    "The board was very supportive of John and his team who have had to make these decisions," McGrath said.

    http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html

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    I have an increasing instinct that Dempsey is an opportunist striving for relevance rather than a capable CEO.

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    Dempsey is doing his job just like McGarth and Kafer... They're all opportunists... The players pay RUPA to do exactly what they're doing now... Its just needs to run its cause... Nothing wrong with appointing a retired judge to investigate Lote's summary dismissal…

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    Stirling Mortlock caught in the ruck over the Lote Tuqiri affair

    Bret Harris | July 14, 2009
    Article from: The Australian


    WALLABIES captain Stirling Mortlock must feel like a pawn in a game of chess.

    No, pawn is probably not the right word because it implies an unimportant person, while Mortlock is very important. Very important to the ARU and the Rugby Union Players Association in their imbroglio over the Lote Tuqiri affair.

    When RUPA chief executive Tony Dempsey announced last Wednesday that the players association was investigating the ARU's conduct in sacking Tuqiri, he claimed Mortlock supported the action.

    Dempsey was clearly trying to get his retaliation in first. He could assert key Wallaby support before the players became silent on the issue.

    To be able to say the Wallaby captain supported the action gave RUPA tremendous credibility, but it put Mortlock in an awkward position with the ARU. Chairman Peter McGrath blasted Dempsey for outing Mortlock, but did not deny the captain supported the action.

    Mortlock was obviously in communication with RUPA about the matter, but Dempsey probably should have cleared it with him before enlisting his very public support.

    But in his only public utterance on the issue, Mortlock told the media last Thursday that the players were seeking clarity on the issue. Rumours have since surfaced that Mortlock has sought a retraction from RUPA over Dempsey's comments that players felt intimidated and fearful.

    There is little doubt that Dempsey got carried away at his media conference and used some colourful language in delivering his message on player concerns about the Tuqiri sacking.

    On Inside Rugby on Fox Sports last Thursday, Dempsey backpedalled on the words "intimidation" and "fearful", replacing them with "anxiety". Mortlock has declined to comment on speculation he sought a retraction. Why? Is he feeling intimidated and fearful? Or just anxious?


    Where does Mortlock's loyalty lie?

    As Wallabies captain, Mortlock has obligations to many stakeholders in Australian rugby, not the least the ARU.

    From time to time players are placed in a position of conflict with the ARU. At these times, players must take a stand. Maybe, Mortlock does not feel intimidated or fearful, but he would have to be aware that (if?) some players do.

    The invoking of a high-profile individual's name to give credence to a collective effort and the use of some colourful language has overshadowed the real significance of what is at stake.

    The two parties need to get together and start talking. And please, could you do it quietly. If you have not noticed, there is an important game on this Saturday.

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    Quote Originally Posted by mudskipper View Post
    Dempsey is doing his job just like McGarth and Kafer... They're all opportunists... The players pay RUPA to do exactly what they're doing now... Its just needs to run its cause... Nothing wrong with appointing a retired judge to investigate Lote's summary dismissal…
    Actually, not at all like McGrath and Kafer - they were just going to sit down and have a chat until Dempsey decided to call a press conference. I thought at the time (and subsequent events seem to bear it out) that if Dempsey felt the need to say "I want to stress that the Wallaby captain Stirling Mortlock and the Wallabies are fully supportive of the action that RUPA is taking in this matter", then there was a good chance that it wasn't true - as head of the player association that should be implicit. Instead, calling in a third party to do a separate review implies some actual documented evidence of impropriety yet there seems to be no such thing. It reeks of a self-important little git trying to embarrass a sworn enemy and making himself and the people he is responsible to look a bit silly.

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