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Wayne Smith | July 11, 2009
Article from: The Australian
ARU chairman Peter McGrath has expressed dismay that Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock was identified as being supportive of the Rugby Union Players Association moves to challenge the ARU's handling of Lote Tuqiri's dismissal.
RUPA is to appoint a former judge to investigate Tuqiri's sacking last week, and has threatened to take legal action against the ARU if there is any evidence of either the collective bargaining agreement having been breached or of ARU chief executive having mounted a personal vendetta against the 67-Test Wallabies winger.
RUPA chief executive Tony Dempsey, at a press conference on Wednesday, specifically named Mortlock as one of the senior Wallabies demanding some clarity about the circumstances of the dismissal.
"I want to stress that the Wallaby captain Stirling Mortlock and the Wallabies are fully supportive of the action that RUPA is taking in this matter," Dempsey told the press conference. McGrath completely dismissed the suggestion that Mortlock might suffer some official retribution for his association with the RUPA action, but said it was astounding the Wallabies captain's name had been publicly dragged into the matter.
"You would never see a trade union official embroil a member like that," McGrath said. "Tony actually demonstrated he's not an industrial relations negotiator. People handle things in different ways and I accept that. But it's a very unusual approach.
"Stirling is a rugby player of great note and the Australian captain. We all need to be very careful about what is said."
McGrath admitted he was surprised at the vehemence of Dempsey's attack on the ARU, in particular his comments that there was a feeling of fear and intimidation in the Wallabies camp, and that RUPA's investigation of the Tuqiri dismissal would not damage relations with the ARU because they were already in terrible shape.
The ARU boss said he was attempting to arrange a meeting with RUPA president Rod Kafer to try to work through differences.
"If there has been a deterioration then we need to address it," he said.
McGrath said, while he had not discussed with O'Neill RUPA's complaint, that if an atmosphere of fear and mistrust had developed within the Wallabies, he was intent on lowering the players' level of concern. "We will do whatever we need to do to calm that situation," McGrath said. "It's just fanciful to suggest people's contracts are put at risk.
"Let's see what the (Wallabies) coach and manager decide is necessary. We will work collaboratively on this to make sure the Wallabies are in the best possible shape they can be to take on the All Blacks."
Ironically, the RUPA press conference was held at the same time as an unscheduled ARU board meeting at which directors endorsed O'Neill's handling of the matter.
"The board was very supportive of John and his team who have had to make these decisions," McGrath said.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html