Wallabies fined for food fight
By Darren Walton, 29 Jun 2009 Darren Walton is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- ARU, James OConnor, Rugby Union, wallabies
Three Wallabies, including teenage sensation James O’Connor, have been fined for engaging in a food fight at their team hotel.
Quade Cooper and Josh Valentine were the others involved in the incident, which required one of the player’s rooms to be cleaned at an additional cost.
The ARU was on Sunday tightlipped about the skylarking, only confirming it took place during the Wallabies’ just-completed inbound Test series.
“The ARU is extremely disappointed by their behaviour as it does not meet the required standards of a Wallaby,” a spokesman said.
The ARU fined all three players and declared the matter closed.
Despite disciplining the trio, the ARU did not deem the offence serious enough to drop O’Connor or Valentine from the bench for Saturday night’s 22-6 Test win over France at ANZ Stadium.
O’Connor, 18, and Cooper, just turned 21, have a history of high jinx.
On the eve of their Test debuts against Italy on last year’s spring tour, the two backline rookies were seen dodging and weaving traffic as they fired passes to one another on the cobbled streets of Padova.
Their latest act of shenanigans is relatively minor compared to the controversies which have dogged the NRL this season.
The league’s latest drama involves Sydney Roosters hooker Jake Friend being investigated by police for allegedly assaulting a woman at a Sydney nightclub on Sunday morning.
Friend, who was banned for two weeks by the NRL and fined $10,000 by his club for a high-range drink driving charge earlier this year, is alleged to have punched a woman at the Tank nightclub in Bridge Lane.
With the Wallabies largely observing a no drinking policy under coach Robbie Deans, the the ARU would be hopeful an old-fashioned food fight will be as bad as it gets.
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mattamkII said | June 29th 2009 @ 9:32am | Report comment
yeah shit has anyone called the UN or Nato?
Who Needs Melon said | June 29th 2009 @ 9:45am | Report comment
You’d have to be rapidly anti-union or something to argue that this wasn’t a pretty suitable response and punishment.
More towards the “jolly japes” end than the NRL end of the spectrum.
Even looser said | June 29th 2009 @ 10:37am | Report comment
They were throwing food right? It’s not like they were having sex with it. Don’t laugh….that’s why cross buns are called ‘hot’.
AndyS said | June 29th 2009 @ 1:17pm | Report comment
Poorly handled by the ARU and makes the Wallaby camp sound like a bunch of children, but could the media have been keener to promote a negative story about Union?
Harry Wombat said | June 29th 2009 @ 3:02pm | Report comment
Isn’t the normal process to pair up a young player with a slightly older (and hopefully) wiser player to prevent these sorts of things happening.
ruckingisfun said | June 29th 2009 @ 6:11pm | Report comment
Several thousand $ for a food fight
What would they get for a Toga party?
ohtani's jacket, said | June 29th 2009 @ 6:37pm | Report comment
Clearly another case of Robbie getting the Wallabies to bond. One eye on 2011. Brilliant.
Maxxy said | June 29th 2009 @ 9:14pm | Report comment
OJ – do you mean the food fight or the fine? I note the 1am casino visit must have got the tick by the ARU and Wallabies as it has not been mentioned. I seem to remember that the much publicised and discussed night club incident in South Africa also occurred on a Wednesday night before the test. I know you are going to say the difference was alcohol but I seem to remember that some of the players did not drink in SA and they got sent home and or sanctioned (Dunning). The details don’t seem to have been revealed – has the grog been ruled out?
Mike said | June 30th 2009 @ 4:26pm | Report comment
I hope at that price it was as good as the food fight in Animal House
mattamkII said | July 2nd 2009 @ 9:31pm | Report comment
yes this is clearly one of the biggest issues to hit world spot… three blokes trowing some food after a few beers…. my word its right up the with Phar Lap kicking the bucket, Magic Johnson’s HIV and I know, the face of a code gang banging a 19 year old girl.