Taylor and Fa'alogo Contracts Terminated
10th September 2009
The Board of the South Sydney Rabbitohs has announced today that the Club has concluded its investigation into the well-publicised events at the Forresters Hotel on Sunday, 6 September 2009. The result of that investigation is that Head Coach Jason Taylor has been served today with formal notification of breaches of his contract with the Club and has been given until 5pm Tuesday, 15 September 2009 by which to respond to that notification. Additionally, player David Fa’alogo has been served today with a breach notice under his NRL playing contract requiring him to appear before the Board on Friday, 18 September to show cause as to why action should not be taken against him by the Club for breaches of his NRL playing contract and the Club’s Code of Conduct. The Club has informed the NRL of the outcome of its investigation and will continue to keep it informed as the disciplinary process against both individuals progresses.
16th September 2009
The Board of the South Sydney Rabbitohs met today to consider the written submissions made by Head Coach Jason Taylor and to give Mr Taylor the opportunity to address the Board personally with his representatives. The Board will reconvene tomorrow to make its decision regarding these matters, with an announcement expected tomorrow afternoon. “This is a matter which the Board are taking very seriously and it won’t be rushed into any decision,” Rabbitohs CEO Shane Richardson said. “The Club has followed due process through all of its investigations and deliberations, and we expect to announce a decision tomorrow afternoon.”
17th September 2009
The South Sydney Rabbitohs announced today that the Club had terminated the contract of Head Coach Jason Taylor, effective immediately. Mr Taylor had been given until 5pm Tuesday to remedy serious breaches of his contract notified to him in writing on 10 September 2009 arising out of an incident at the Forresters Hotel on Sunday, 6 September 2009. As Mr Taylor had failed to remedy those breaches by the appointed deadline, the Club exercised its lawful right to terminate his contract. Mr Taylor’s contract with the Rabbitohs was to have expired on 31 October 2010. The Rabbitohs want to make it known to their Members, supporters, corporate partners and the Rugby League community that the Club remains determined to set and uphold the highest standards in staff and player behaviour. “First of all we would like to apologise to the Clubs who are participating in the NRL Finals Series as this incident has detracted from the positive publicity they and Rugby League should be receiving at the moment. They’ve done a great job to make the top eight this year and I’m sure the rest of the Finals Series will be as enthralling as week one,” Rabbitohs CEO Shane Richardson said. “At the Rabbitohs we are determined to ensure that the values that our Club holds and the reputation of the Club and those people and organisations connected with us remain intact. “This is not about one or two people. It is about our Club, standing up for what we believe is right, and ensuring that we uphold our reputation. It’s about protecting the Club and everything that we stand for. “The incident that occurred on September 6 has undoubtedly done damage to the Club’s reputation, despite an otherwise unblemished 2009 season. “We have built our business plan on the fact that all of our stakeholders are part of the family that is South Sydney. “We are unique in the Sydney market in that we do not rely on poker machines to prop up our business. We rely on our credibility. “We rely on the reputation and the conduct of our employees, players, coaches and administration in general. “On a broader note, Rugby League is under close review of its whole culture. Rugby League is a professional sport with corporate partners, Members, supporters, management and staff to consider. “The game needs to make a stance on our behavioural incidents and each Club needs to make their own statement about what is acceptable behaviour. “We believe this is not acceptable behaviour from the Head Coach of South Sydney. “We thank Jason for his efforts with our Club over the past three years and wish him luck with his career and his family in the future. On a related matter, the Club also announced today that it had terminated the playing contract of David Fa’alogo, by agreement reached with the player, also effective immediately. The Club thanks Mr Fa’alogo for his services to the Club over the past seven seasons and wishes him success in his playing career in the United Kingdom. “We have also reached agreement with David and his management to terminate his contract immediately,” Mr Richardson said. “The Board met and determined that David had breached the Club’s Code of conduct, a document that clearly sets out the behavioural standards expected of the players at our Club, and our only course of action was to terminate his contract.” Fa’alogo has expressed his remorse at his role in the incident. “I’ve been at the Rabbitohs for seven years now and I’m sorry that my time at the Club has ended in this way,” Fa’alogo said. “I take full responsibility for my actions and having met with my management, I feel the Club has given me a fair hearing in this case. “I thank the Club for giving me the opportunities they have and I wish the Rabbitohs luck in the future.” The Club has informed the NRL of the termination of both Mr Taylor’s and Mr Fa’alogo’s contracts.
