Hurricanes Pair In Nightclub Stoush
07/03/2006
Marc Hinton
The South African curse has struck the high-flying Hurricanes with two players having to be disciplined after getting in a fight with each other at a nightclub in Bloemfontein at the weekend.
The Hurricanes management confirmed they have instituted disciplinary procedures on All Black flanker Jerry Collins and Samoan international wing Lome Fa'atau after they were involved in a "minor" stoush with each other at the nightclub.
The incident followed the Wellington-based team's first loss of the Rebel Sport Super 14 season at the weekend, the previously table-topping Canes being pipped 27-25 by the Cheetahs, after leading 25-10 a quarter of an hour into the second spell.
Apparently no one else was involved in the stoush, which allegedly involved one of the players throwing an elbow at the other. South African media have reported that punches were also thrown in the altercation which was broken up by Samoan international and Cheetahs hooker Trevor Leota.
It will, however, be a major disappointment to the Hurricanes who have acted quickly and apparently closed ranks over the incident.
Team management issued a statement saying they were "disappointed" to learn of a "minor incident" involving Collins and Fa'atau.
"The two players were involved in a minor tussle with each other at a nightclub in Bloemfontein," the Hurricanes statement said.
"No one else was involved and the matter has since been dealt with internally within the team, with both players dealt with under the team's protocols and code of conduct."
Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper told the Dominion-Post newspaper it "was not a big thing" but he would not rule out the miscreants being dropped for the weekend's clash in Cape Town.
"You'll have to wait and see. The team will be named on Friday," he told the paper.
If he were to discipline the pair it would be a big call. Fa'atau has been in prime form, scoring a competition-leading five tries, while Collins is the Canes hard man of the pack and arguably their key figure up front.
Hurricanes team manager Garry Carnachan admitted the incident was not acceptable and that had been spelt out to the errant pair.
"We are disappointed to learn of the disagreement between these two players because under the current regime, extremely high standards have been set within the team both on and off the field," he said.
"We've made it clear to the players that they must conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times and they are aware that their actions were pretty stupid and not acceptable."
The team and players concerned have declined to make any further comment on the incident.
The Hurricanes, clearly not as happy a camp as many believed, must now regroup for their second match in South Africa, against the Stormers in Cape Town this weekend.
The side, despite occupying second place on the table, have their issues to deal with. As well as this latest hiccup, they have an injury crisis in midfield where they have lost Conrad Smith for the season with a broken leg and Tana Umaga for a month with a knee strain.
