The Australian Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA) has appointed a Queen’s Counsel to lead an investigation into the termination of Lote Tuqiri’s Wallabies contract.
John Spender QC, a a former federal MP and government ambassador, will conduct the investigation on RUPA’s behalf.
RUPA chief executive Tony Dempsey said the inquiry would look at whether the Australian Rugby Union and the NSW Rugby Union followed proper process when it sacked 67-Test veteran Tuqiri halfway through a five-year contract.
Tuqiri’s disputed sacking is heading to the courts, with the first hearing expected to take place late next week.
The investigation will also explore general disciplinary proceedings against players.
“We have decided to broaden the scope of the investigation to include all forms of suspensions and fines imposed on players over the past five years by the ARU and State Unions in relation to disciplinary matters,” RUPA chief executive Tony Dempsey said in a statement.
“We want to be clear on what the process is for fines and suspensions and summary terminations for our members and be sure that any disciplinary action imposed is commensurate with the alleged breach.
“It is important we get clarity and transparency in all matters and ensure all parties have acted in good faith.”
Dempsey said he anticipated the investigation would take some time to reach its conclusions.
The ARU has not revealed the reasons for Tuqiri’s sacking, but chief executive John O’Neill said that the winger had received a letter two years ago warning that further contract breaches would not be tolerated.
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LeftArmSpinner said | August 1st 2009 @ 5:02am | Report comment
More noise from Dempsey, just a shame about the lack of substance. I would like to know if Dempsey knows the facts behind the case or is the SC, Senior Counsel (they are no longer called QC) is going to fnd it all out for RUPA. Why not just ask Lote?? He’s a current member, presumably.
Sadly, Dempsey doesnt appreciate just how well the Players, his members, are looked after.
Norm said | August 1st 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment
for your information las those appointed as QCs before the change still retain that title.
Chris Beck said | August 1st 2009 @ 10:31am | Report comment
Reopening all suspensions & disciplinary actions over the last five years? If they “find something” then the RUPA wasn’t doing their job then, while if they don’t it just makes them look like they weren’t.
And then he says it is important to get clarity and transparency. Is he implying that those are currently foreign concepts? If so, one could argue they need someone else in charge of the RUPA.
bozo said | August 1st 2009 @ 9:23pm | Report comment
LAS is right and wrong. Wrong; Spender is a QC..great connections with a past conservative era.
Right: Waste of momey and time. But it would be interesting to be told what is Spender’s brief?? – You can be sure he will give the correct answer.
sledgeandhammer said | August 1st 2009 @ 10:36pm | Report comment
Good on Lote fighting this one, and good on Dempsey for getting behind the players. The ARU has gone overboard with the ridiculous disciplinary codes. Lote’s behaviour may not have been morally correct, but enough of this sanctimonious, holier than thou bullshit. What happened should be an issue that Lote has to resolve with his wife, not the ARU.
Wally James said | August 2nd 2009 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
It appears to me that RUPA inquiry insofar as it relates to Tuquiri is a complete waste of time.
The matter is already before the Court. Both the ARU and Tuquiri have indicated they will not release any information to anyone except their respective legal advisors and the Court. Consequently Spender QC will have little if any first hand evidence to act upon.
The Court will have before it all the necessary evidence to determine what happened and Mr Spender will not. Accordingly the findings of the Court are likely to be accurate and those of Mr Spender’s not. That is not intended to be a reflection upon Mr Spender just the reality he faces.
Further what business is it of RUPA’s? The facts seem to be peculiar to Tuquiri and on the face of it have no relevance to the playing population as a whole. The Code of conduct is there. The Court will decide what Tuquiri did and whether it breached the Code. That seems to be a matter between Tuquiri and the ARU
It appears to me to be an inappropriate respnse from RUPA, wasting both time and money.
bozo said | August 2nd 2009 @ 5:38pm | Report comment
Wally -The evidence will not only released to the parties and the Court. Courts in Australia are public forums. Anyone can sit in and listen to the hearing of a case. This is obviously a card the ARU knows it has in the deck. It will settle before the evidence has to be given.
bozo said | August 2nd 2009 @ 10:19pm | Report comment
reference to “it” in the last sentence was to the claim, not the ARU
Wally James said | August 3rd 2009 @ 11:39am | Report comment
Bozo
I see your point however Spender QC cannot get the evidence unless there is a trial. In the absence of a trial he does not get the evidence at all. His appointment is therefore either superfluous (the Court can make a decision on the same evidence he hears) or pointless (he does not get the evidence at all. Either way its a fruitless exercise.
Cheers
Wal
Jameswm said | August 3rd 2009 @ 11:45am | Report comment
sledge – it’s not just a morals thing. Lote used his Wallabies corporate credit card FFS. How stupid was that?
You’ve got 18-20yos there around him. He should have known better.