RUGBY Hooligans Thread

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Another HOOLIGANS thread and this time it is RUGBY

Serial RUGBY HOOLIGAN Matt Henjak is (not really) facing the sack today after beating the shit out of one of his team mates. His coach's initial reaction was to tear up his contract immediately, but then when he realised he might need the HOOLIGAN in his team to win games, he changed his mind.

Here is how the incident might have probably looked;

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-df1GFW2oyE


http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23198593-23217,00.html

Brawling Henjak faces sack

    Wayne Smith
    February 12, 2008

FORMER Australia half-back Matt Henjak's career is hanging by a thread after an incident at a Fremantle hotel on Sunday that left his teammate Haig Sare with a broken jaw.

Sare is understood to have undergone surgery in a Perth hospital on Monday night to wire his jaw back together after a drinking session involving half a dozen Force players degenerated into pushing and shoving, and from there into a violent altercation between Sare and Henjak.

One source told The Australian that while Sare ended up in hospital, Henjak was so badly beaten "he looked like the Elephant Man".

The ugly episode is the latest in a long list of incidents involving Henjak who in 2005 became the first player since 1966 to be sent home in disgrace from a Wallabies tour after getting involved in an incident in a Cape Town nightclub.

It is understood there have been a number of other disciplinary matters involving Henjak during his two years in Perth.

Force was in crisis Monday night as officials wrestled with the problem of whether or not to allow the 26-year-old to board the plane today (Tuesday) for the team's three-match Super 14 tour of South Africa, opening with the match against last year's finalists, the Sharks, in Durban on Friday.

It is believed some officials were arguing that natural justice demanded that Henjak be allowed to tour until all the details of the incident were known.

Bolstering that argument is the fact that Henjak is the only experienced half-back in the touring party, unless Matt Giteau is drafted as the new No9, which would throw into chaos plans to have him direct operations from five-eighth.

Sources have revealed that coach John Mitchell's initial reaction on learning of the incident was to tear up Henjak's contract and expel him from the team, but he then realised that this would penalise the entire side.

Yet even if Henjak is given leave to tour and face a judiciary hearing on his return, all indications are his contract will not be renewed when it expires at the end of the season.

Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill, who made his views on player discipline known right from the moment he suspended and fined Lote Tuqiri last year following an alcohol-related incident in Brisbane, was advised of the altercation on Monday night by Force acting chief executive Mitch Hardy.

"We have asked them to continue to review the situation and report back to us in the morning," O'Neill said. "Ultimately it's their call."

While the ARU might have no direct authority to get involved, O'Neill must be concerned by the long litany of indiscipline at Force.

Late last year Force players Scott Fava and Richard Brown were fined $11,000 and $5000 respectively for mistreating quokkas on a team bonding trip to Rottnest Island.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Penalise the entire side?? WTF? they wont have as good a year as last season.

O'Neill neatly sidesteps and their farce of a game wonders why it is dying.

F'em

 

[FFC Mariner]

Another Rugger coming soon to an NRL club near YOUR children. Great game, wonderful people.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/20/2167451.htm?section=justin

ARU pondering Henjak recommendation
Posted 42 minutes ago
Updated 19 minutes ago


The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) says it will need further consultation before deciding whether to terminate Matt Henjak's contract with the Western Force.

Rugby Western Australia's Conduct Committee has recommended Henjak be sacked after an eight-hour hearing into allegations he broke the jaw of team-mate Haig Sare.

The incident occurred at a Fremantle Hotel earlier this month.

The ARU says it has been informed of the disciplinary hearing's recommendations and it will discuss the matter with RugbyWA today.

RugbyWA also fined Sare $5,000 and suspended him for eight weeks.

After the hearing Henjak would not comment about whether he will appeal against the decision.

"I'm bitterly disappointed in the decision found by RugbyWA tonight, it's something I've got to go home and think about now and that's all I've got to say," he said.

Henjak was found to have savagely bashed Sare when Sare was sitting down, vulnerable and unable to defend himself.(What a great guy)

RugbyWA chairman Geoff Stooke says Henjak's actions were grossly irresponsible and disloyal.

"RugbyWA and Emirates Western Force do not have a culture of alcohol abuse and anti-social behaviour," he said.(Edit: Yes they do, hence the story)

"What it does have is a small number of individuals who have let the organisation down badly by their unacceptable actions.

"A need exists to help manage much of the behaviour and lifestyle issues relating to young men involved in professional sport and RugbyWA takes this responsibility very seriously."

The incident was the latest in a string of off-field indiscretions involving Henjak.

He was sent home from a tour of South Africa three years ago after he threw ice at patrons in a Cape Town nightclub, and allegedly got involved in a fight with a Wallaby team-mate.

It has also been reported that the Force paid $15,000 to a South African man who had allegedly been assaulted when Henjak was there with the Brumbies.

After the money was paid, legal action was dropped