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The RugbyWA Misconduct Committee reconvened last night after further and serious allegations were made about the mistreatment of quokkas by Emirates Western Force players at Rottnest Island on Friday 23 November.
After considering these further allegations and taking further statements from players and witnesses, the Committee determined that Scott Fava and Richard Brown had breached the Emirates Western Force serious misconduct protocol.
The Committee found that both players had been drunk in public, behaved anti-socially and inappropriately handled quokkas.
The Committee found that neither intended to cause any harm to the quokkas.
These findings are consistent with the evidence of the Rottnest Island Authority and Rottnest Island Police that no quokka or quokkas were injured.
Fava was fined $11,000 (payable to the Rottnest Island Conservation Foundation) and ordered to undertake seven days community service and counselling for alcohol abuse.
Brown was fined $5,000 (payable to the Rottnest Island Conservation Foundation) and ordered to undertake seven days of community service.
Both fines were the maximum available under the Australian Rugby Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Both players have expressed their sincere remorse, and they have apologised unreservedly for their irresponsible and unacceptable actions.
RugbyWA Chairman Geoff Stooke said that on behalf of RugbyWA and the Emirates Western Force he wished to apologise to the people of WA, including members and supporters of the Emirates Western Force, for what had occurred.
“We also wish to apologise to the Australian Rugby Union and all those involved in Australian Rugby,” he said.
Stooke said the players’ behaviour had been totally unacceptable and was not consistent with the core values and culture of the Emirates Western Force.
“We are acutely aware of the damage this has done to the good name of the team, a reputation that has been hard-earned over the last two years,” he said
“The Emirates Western Force has enjoyed an outstanding relationship with the WA community and we are determined to repair the damage that has occurred.”
“RugbyWA would like to thank the Rottnest Island Authority, the WA Police Service and a number of independent witnesses for their assistance in our investigations.
RugbyWA