NRL: Rabbitohs sack coach Taylor

SYDNEY - South Sydney have appointed John Lang as coach for the next two NRL seasons after sacking incumbent Jason Taylor on Thursday.

Taylor's contract was torn up following an incident also involving prop David Fa'alogo at his team's end of season function in a Sydney hotel 11 days ago.

It was alleged Taylor had playfully slapped Fa'alogo before the Kiwi international punched back, causing Taylor to fall down a flight of stairs.

Fa'alogo was also sacked on Thursday.

Taylor, 38, fronted the Rabbitohs on Wednesday in a bid to save his job, but it was to no avail with Lang - who was appointed football consultant at the Rabbitohs in May 2008 - named as his successor.

Lang's last role as head coach was with Penrith from 2002-2006, which included a premiership triumph in 2003.

He also coached Cronulla from 1994-2001, leading the Sharks to the 1997 Super League grand final which ended in defeat to Brisbane.

Taylor's sacking brings to an end a roller coaster three-year stint at Redfern Oval, in which the Rabbitohs made the finals for the first time since 1989 when they finished seventh in 2007 - Taylor's first year with the club.

But the Rabbitohs have disappointed in the two years since, failing to make the finals in either 2008 or 2009.

- AAP