New twist in Byrnes saga

Controversial Rebels lock Adam Byrnes has not made many appearances on the playing field this season, but he continues to grab the headlines ... for all the wrong reasons.

In the latest twist in the ongoing saga - which started with him being accused and found guilty of eye-gouging back in March - Byrnes won another appeal against SANZAR, although he still has to pay their costs.

It started when Byrnes was suspended for 10 weeks after being found guilty of foul play - under Law 10.4 (m), Acts contrary to good sportsmanship, having made contact with the eye of Tom Carter, in the Super Rugby match between the Rebels and the Waratahs at AAMI Stadium on Friday, March 2.

The Rebels lock lodged an appeal against the outcome of a SANZAR judicial hearing and won his appeal.

However, SANZAR then charged him with a breach of the organisation's Code of Conduct - following comments attributed to Byrnes in the Telegraph newspaper on March 23. It was found that the interview contained an unwarranted and serious verbal attack by Byrnes on the integrity and good character of another Carter, an attack such as well might impair public confidence in that other player’s character and integrity.

Byrnes was issued with an official warning from SANZAR that behaviour such as this will not be tolerated. Byrnes was ordered to pay a fine of AU$5,000 and also pay a sum of UA$2,500 to cover SANZAR costs.

Byrnes again lodged an appeal against the outcome of a SANZAR misconduct hearing.

The SANZAR appeals committee has bow "revised" the sanction handed down to Byrnes at the hearing on April 19.

The decision by the SANZAR Appeals Committee, chaired by Bill Wilson QC has ruled: "The formal caution of Byrnes remains and he is required to pay SANZAR within seven days of the date of this decision, the costs of AU$2,500 ordered to be paid by the Judicial Officer.

"The order for payment of a fine of AU$5,000 is quashed."

In its decision the appeals committee stated that the decision to quash the fine was arrived at on the very unusual facts of this case, including it was the first of it’s kind, and should therefore not be seen as a precedent.  

"Players wanting to complain about other players should do so through SANZAR channels rather than through the media," a SANZAR statement said.

"If they do speak to the media they place themselves at risk of facing a charge of breaching clause 8.3 (g) of the SANZAR Code of Conduct.  If established such a charge will usually result in a substantial fine."