Sailor Accepts Conduct Tribunal Decision

Wendell Sailor watches on at training. Photo courtesy of the NSW Waratahs

NSW Waratahs winger Wendell Sailor says he’s disappointed but will accept an additional suspension and fine handed down by the ARU Conduct Tribunal.

After a marathon three hour sitting, Tribunal chair Lindsay Foster SC suspended Sailor for an additional two matches and fined him $3,500 following an incident in Cape Town in the early hours of Saturday, February 19.

The added penalty comes on top of a one match suspension and fine handed down by a Waratahs disciplinary committee immediately after the offence.

“It’s more than fair to say I’m disappointed with the outcome,” Sailor said.

“Being suspended for two more games will take me up to a month on the sidelines, which especially hurts when the Waratahs need me to be on the field.

“However, I will accept this decision and get on with it.

“I now look forward to giving the boys my full support over the next two weeks while getting myself ready for the match against the Western Force in Perth.”

The next phase of Sailor’s suspension kicks in this Saturday when the NSW Waratahs take on the Sharks at Aussie Stadium.

He will also miss their next home clash, against the Cats on Friday March 10.

While the committee - made up of Mr. Foster, NSWRU Board member Ed Zemancheff and ARU Chief Operating Officer Rob Clarke - readily accepted Sailor’s obvious contrition for what had occurred, it felt there was no option but to impose the added sentence.

His current Wallaby two match suspended sentence, issued after the Cape Town nightclub affair last year, will remain in force.

“Although this is technically an ARU Tribunal, it has been conducted with the full involvement and support of the NSW Rugby Union,” NSWRU Chairman Arvid Petersen said.

“While this might be a disruption to the Waratahs Super 14 campaign, it is important that we take a strong stance in the area of player behaviour and off-field discipline.

“We now have an important home game ahead of us against the Sharks on Saturday so we look forward to putting this behind us.”

Sailor will next be eligible to play when the Waratahs travel to Perth to take on the Western Force on Friday, March 17.

Related Articles:

NSWRU and ARU agree to hold Code of Conduct Hearing (Mon Feb 20)
Sailor Suspended by Waratahs Disciplinary Committee (Mon Feb 20)