New disciplinary procedures for Wallabies

SYDNEY - The Australian Rugby Union has come good on its promise to investigate Wallaby discipline after problems on the recent South African tour.

The ARU announced its new disciplinary protocol for all national teams, which shifts responsibility for reviewing serious incidents to an independent body yesterday.

ARU boss Gary Flowers put his foot down after halfback Matt Henjak was put on an early flight home from the Tri-Nations tour following his late night spat with teammate Lote Tuqiri in a Cape Town nightclub in August.

"Ultimately being a Wallaby is an honour that carries obligations and a great duty," Flowers said.

"After a number of incidents in recent times we have moved to strengthen our disciplinary protocol.

"We intend to maintain the highest standards."

Under the new rules, serious offences will be examined by the ARU teams disciplinary committee, an independent panel made up of a senior legal practitioner, the general manager of the ARU's high performance unit and the Wallaby team manager.

"Introducing an element of independence into the process for any serious matter (takes) it out of the team environment," an ARU spokesperson said.

"It actually takes the pressure off the team management."

The new regulations also spell out minor offences, such as being late for training or breaking the dress code, and more serious matters, such as public drunkenness, physical abuse or sexual misconduct, and their penalties.

Serious matters can result in fines of up to 28 days' pay, one month's suspension and termination of contract.

Minor offences carry penalties of an official warning, extra team duties or fines and will be reviewed by a committee consisting of the Wallaby team manager, another Wallaby staffer and two senior players.

"We were concerned that the current protocol didn't sufficiently distinguish between minor and major offences, particularly as far as penalties were concerned," the spokesperson said.

While the lists of offences are comprehensive, they are not exhaustive and the ARU is prepared to add to them should unforeseen situations occur.

Players can appeal to the existing ARU appeals tribunal.

The ARU is understood to be on the verge of announcing the appointment of a senior figure from the legal world to head the serious offences panel.

- AAP