0
Australian Rugby Union is threatening its own disciplinary action against Matt Henjak, after he was guaranteed a Super 14 spot despite bar brawl.
Going against the ARU's wishes, the former Wallaby scrumhalf was on a flight to South Africa today - the day after it emerged his clash with Sare on Sunday had left the Force winger needing surgery to have a plate inserted in his jaw.
ARU chief executive John O'Neill expressed dismay today after learning that coach John Mitchell had declared before flying out that Henjak would play in the Super 14 first round match against the Sharks in Durban on Friday.
He demanded that the Force deal with the disciplinary matter promptly, and before the Friday match if possible, and warned the ARU would take over the matter if it wasn't satisfied with the way it was handled.
"While natural justice demands any player is innocent until proven guilty, we believe there is justification to stand down any player who has a disciplinary hearing pending,'' said O'Neill in a statement.
"After being told of the incident last night, the ARU had advised the Force not to include Matt Henjak in the touring squad.
"Unfortunately, we had no further contact with them this morning before they announced that Henjak would tour and ... play in the first match on Friday.
"The game is bigger than individuals. Disciplinary matters need to be taken seriously and dealt with accordingly, and in isolation, regardless of the team dynamics.
"Under the code of conduct, the ARU has the authority to intervene if it believes an incident of a sufficiently serious nature has occurred and a province does not take appropriate action to resolve the situation.
"If that was the case, we could serve notice on a province that the ARU will take over the matter and convene a hearing before a three-man ARU tribunal.''
With Sare set to miss the first six weeks of the Super 14 season with his injury, Henjak said nothing to media at Perth airport as he left - but acting Force CEO Mitch Hardy defended the decision to allow him to tour and play.
"We are aware there would be some public backlash, but ... to pull a key player out a day before the team is due to depart would only penalise the rest of the organisation, not the individual,'' Hardy said.
"It is a decision we did not take lightly, and we will try to get this hearing in place as quickly as possible - if that requires him being sent home then so be it.
"You have got two players' careers who are on the line ... the extreme circumstance would be both the players employment with the Western Force would cease.
"We have to give Haig the benefit - it is very hard to talk with your jaw wired shut. We have got to give him a fair hearing, just as we have to with Matt.
"They are both very remorseful and they are both very disappointed they have let their teammates down.''
Force officials and team leaders will continue the inquiry into the fracas on arrival in South Africa, with Sare to take part via phone.
Hardy said he hoped any disciplinary measures would be meted out before the team returned on March 2.
A fractious Mitchell said his team was unified, Henjak would play, and the dramas would not be a distraction.
"He deserves his selection. It would be totally unfair to everyone in the organisation and the team if we did not select the best players to go on the field,'' Mitchell said.
"We have made the decision as to what is best for the team. All I am concerned about is team performance in this fixture against the Sharks.
"It is not a distraction at all as far as I am concerned.''
It emerged today a group of Force players had spent Sunday afternoon at the Left Bank cafe in East Fremantle, before high spirited push and shove between Sare and Henjak turned nasty.
Club officials were not told of the seriousness of the events until after naming the touring squad on Monday morning.
Henjak has a long list of infractions while representing the Wallabies, Brumbies and Force - which former CEO Peter O'Meara said today were all to do with alcohol.
"One of the demons he has to deal with is his alcohol management, I think it is a common denominator in a number of these incidents,'' O'Meara told Fairfax Radio.
"He has given a personal undertaking that he won't touch alcohol this season, and if Matt sticks to that I think it is a fantastic step forward. I think it has got to that point ... his livelihood is on the drawing board.''
And a horror 24 hours for the Force was topped off with captain Nathan Sharpe travelling despite contracting food poisoning, while the flight to South Africa was delayed for two hours.
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...005401,00.html
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by TOCC
