Fa'alogo Suspension Internationals Don't Count
29th February 2008
South Sydney Football Club announced today that it was extremely disappointed with NRL Judiciary Chairman Greg Woods's decision to reject its submission that the five Kiwi Tests at the end of 2007 count as part of David Fa'alogo's seven game suspension from Round 25 2007.
Fa'alogo was a Test regular for New Zealand prior to the suspension, having played five successive Tests for the Kiwis up to and including the ANZAC Test at Suncorp Stadium on April 20, 2007. SSFC feels that instead of serving the seven game suspension that was handed down by the NRL Judiciary, Fa'alogo has effectively been penalised 12 matches.
In a letter provided by the NZRL that was part of the Club's submission to the Judiciary Chairman, the NZRL Convenor of Selectors, Howie Tamati, wrote that David Fa'alogo was considered a selection certainty for the Tests against Australia, Great Britain and France. The letter read;
David was formally selected for both squads (to play the Kangaroos in Wellington in October 2007 and the 2007 Kiwi touring squad that travelled to Great Britain and France). As a result of his selection, David attended the squad members' team gathering in Sydney on 29 August 2007 immediately following the appointment of the new Kiwi coach, Gary Kemble. Each player who attended that night, apart from those who were subsequently injured in the semi-finals, took part in the match against the Kangaroos and in the tour of Great Britain. The only factor that prevented David from taking the field was our belief that his NRL suspension operated to exclude him from participation in both the Wellington Test against Australia and the touring team to Great Britain.
As a result of the decision, Fa'alogo will now not be able to play for the Rabbitohs until Round 5.