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Listing Sailor's career threatened
By Peter Jenkins
February 21, 2006
DISGRACED wing Wendell Sailor flies home today from South Africa facing the prospect his Australia career is over.
Sailor ... let his side down badly. Pic: Jeff Darmanin
The dual international has been suspended and fined by New South Wales Waratahs after a drunken night in Cape Town, his second offence in the same city in just seven months.
But in an explosive development last night, the Australian Rugby Union and its NSW division announced a further tribunal hearing which could leave Sailor without a Test future.
His contract is also under threat if previous warnings to the big winger are now carried out.
Sailor received a one-game ban from a Waratahs disciplinary committee and was slapped with an undisclosed fine - possibly around $5000 - yesterday after getting drunk, pushing a patron and vomiting in a side alley outside a bar on Saturday morning (AEDT).
Injury had ruled Sailor out of the Super 14 clash against the Stormers to be played the next day.
Last year Sailor was fined $500 and given a two-match ban, suspended for two years, after being out late in a Cape Town nightclub two days before a Test.
But a joint statement from the ARU and NSWRU revealed that a code of conduct hearing will be held this week.
"The Waratahs acted quickly in conducting an internal disciplinary committee hearing," ARU managing director Gary Flowers said.
"However, because of the significance of the issue, both the NSWRU and the ARU agree further action is warranted."
The statement has also brought into focus the dire consequences outlined to four players - Matt Henjak, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Dunning and Sailor - when they were punished over their night owl activities last August.
At the time, Flowers said players could have their ARU contracts terminated if they re-offended and coach Eddie Jones warned the quartet was "now on notice (that) if they (misbehave) again, their Wallabies careers are at stake".
While Jones has since left the post, his successor John Connolly has spruiked zero-tolerance to off-field misbehaviour.
Pressed on whether those hardline words spelt danger for Sailor, Flowers said last night: "All the statements you've quoted were very clear about how seriously we review behavioural matters.
"We went to extreme lengths after that tour to make players aware of their responsibilities. We have made our views very clear (on the Sailor incident) and New South Wales agrees. We certainly view it as a serious matter."
Flowers said the code of conduct tribunal would have the power to impose the suspended sentence as a minimum penalty and reach for even harsher penalties if Sailor is again found guilty.
Asked if Sailor's contract could be torn up, Flowers added: "Penalties are up to the tribunal. But we've said all along these are serious matters."
NSWRU chief executive Fraser Neill admitted the Sailor episode was "very disappointing" and offered advice to other players on tour in South Africa.
"Take up a hobby and stay in your rooms," he said.
"It's an out and out goldfish bowl here and any incident seems to get magnified by 10. But we've got a responsibility and we've got to deal with it. We can't use that as an excuse."
An embarrassed Sailor, who was out with fellow Waratahs Troy Takiari and Will Caldwell, yesterday denied any major contact between himself and the local at the Sohbar.
"The guy was talking rugby a bit ... it was non-stop ... and at one stage I obviously said, 'I don't want to talk any more mate'. But at no stage did I get into an altercation," he said.
"But what we do as players reflects on the franchise and I've let down the franchise, myself and the family.
"That's why I've got to make sure when Wendell Sailor goes out, he's got to realise he's representing himself and the Waratahs. "I am pretty disappointed with what occurred. I need to look after myself a bit better and not put the team under the pressure that they were under over the weekend."
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18212357-5002381,00.html
His absence from the Wallabies would be welcomed and improve the team no end.
By Peter Jenkins
February 21, 2006
DISGRACED wing Wendell Sailor flies home today from South Africa facing the prospect his Australia career is over.
The dual international has been suspended and fined by New South Wales Waratahs after a drunken night in Cape Town, his second offence in the same city in just seven months.
But in an explosive development last night, the Australian Rugby Union and its NSW division announced a further tribunal hearing which could leave Sailor without a Test future.
His contract is also under threat if previous warnings to the big winger are now carried out.
Sailor received a one-game ban from a Waratahs disciplinary committee and was slapped with an undisclosed fine - possibly around $5000 - yesterday after getting drunk, pushing a patron and vomiting in a side alley outside a bar on Saturday morning (AEDT).
Injury had ruled Sailor out of the Super 14 clash against the Stormers to be played the next day.
Last year Sailor was fined $500 and given a two-match ban, suspended for two years, after being out late in a Cape Town nightclub two days before a Test.
But a joint statement from the ARU and NSWRU revealed that a code of conduct hearing will be held this week.
"The Waratahs acted quickly in conducting an internal disciplinary committee hearing," ARU managing director Gary Flowers said.
The statement has also brought into focus the dire consequences outlined to four players - Matt Henjak, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Dunning and Sailor - when they were punished over their night owl activities last August.
At the time, Flowers said players could have their ARU contracts terminated if they re-offended and coach Eddie Jones warned the quartet was "now on notice (that) if they (misbehave) again, their Wallabies careers are at stake".
While Jones has since left the post, his successor John Connolly has spruiked zero-tolerance to off-field misbehaviour.
Pressed on whether those hardline words spelt danger for Sailor, Flowers said last night: "All the statements you've quoted were very clear about how seriously we review behavioural matters.
"We went to extreme lengths after that tour to make players aware of their responsibilities. We have made our views very clear (on the Sailor incident) and New South Wales agrees. We certainly view it as a serious matter."
Flowers said the code of conduct tribunal would have the power to impose the suspended sentence as a minimum penalty and reach for even harsher penalties if Sailor is again found guilty.
Asked if Sailor's contract could be torn up, Flowers added: "Penalties are up to the tribunal. But we've said all along these are serious matters."
NSWRU chief executive Fraser Neill admitted the Sailor episode was "very disappointing" and offered advice to other players on tour in South Africa.
"Take up a hobby and stay in your rooms," he said.
"It's an out and out goldfish bowl here and any incident seems to get magnified by 10. But we've got a responsibility and we've got to deal with it. We can't use that as an excuse."
An embarrassed Sailor, who was out with fellow Waratahs Troy Takiari and Will Caldwell, yesterday denied any major contact between himself and the local at the Sohbar.
"The guy was talking rugby a bit ... it was non-stop ... and at one stage I obviously said, 'I don't want to talk any more mate'. But at no stage did I get into an altercation," he said.
"But what we do as players reflects on the franchise and I've let down the franchise, myself and the family.
"That's why I've got to make sure when Wendell Sailor goes out, he's got to realise he's representing himself and the Waratahs. "I am pretty disappointed with what occurred. I need to look after myself a bit better and not put the team under the pressure that they were under over the weekend."
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18212357-5002381,00.html
His absence from the Wallabies would be welcomed and improve the team no end.
We can only hope
