Axe Hangs Over Henjak's Neck

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday February 16, 2008

Greg Growden

THE Australian Rugby Union is reviewing two incidents involving Matt Henjak, including his involvement at the centre of a scuffle with teammates and officials during the Prime Minister's XV tour of Japan in 2006.

Henjak is under serious threat of having his Western Force and ARU contracts torn up after he was involved in a fight with teammate Haig Sare in Fremantle last Sunday night. A tribunal hearing on this incident, which left Sare with a broken jaw, will be held in Perth on Tuesday.

After the Herald yesterday asked the ARU for a response to claims of unruly behaviour by Henjak during the Prime Minister's tour, the governing body said it would make official enquiries.

The incident came to light when the Herald was contacted by a witness present at the Tokyo bar. The witness said Henjak was "carrying on like a lunatic".

It is understood that Henjak had an altercation with a visiting official, and was involved in another incident that included "pushing and shoving" several teammates and kicking at least one other.

The incident occurred the night after the Prime Minister's XV team, which included six Wallabies, played Japan in November 2006.

This latest revelation follows reports that Henjak bit and hit lower-grade Randwick player Michael Girvan in 2005 at the farewell function of his then Brumbies teammate Owen Finegan. The Herald has learned the police were called and statements taken, but the matter was dropped when Henjak agreed to contribute $5000 to charity.

"Following information that has surfaced in the past 24 hours, the ARU will conduct an internal review into two further allegations of poor off-field behaviour involving halfback Matt Henjak in 2005 and 2006," the ARU said in a statement released last night.

"We are clearly concerned about any incident involving any player which can have a detrimental effect on the image of the game.

"Senior management figures at the ARU, who were not part of the organisation during the years in question, were unaware of either alleged incident until supplied with details by the media. The ARU have since made enquiries into information supplied by The Sydney Morning Herald and can confirm a minor incident - not deemed worthy of disciplinary action at the time - occurred on the Prime Minister's XV tour to Japan.

"The ARU is also making enquiries into a Channel Nine report about an alleged incident in Canberra three years ago. We have informed Rugby WA of the details contained in the television report. We are also making our own enquiries on this matter."

The Herald also revealed this week that Henjak was allegedly involved in an incident in which Liam O'Meara, son of former Force chief executive Peter O'Meara, was injured at a 2006 Christmas party.

Henjak's litany of woes further extends to the national team. He became the first Wallaby sent home in 40 years when he was involved in a nightclub incident in Cape Town in 2005. He received a two-year, two-match suspended sentence and a $500 fine.

Earlier this week, the ARU expressed its strong disappointment that the Force did not immediately stand down Henjak after his fight with Sare. Instead, he was allowed to travel to South Africa with the team. This was to allow Henjak to play in the Force's clash against the Sharks in Durban, held in the early hours of this morning (Sydney time).

The Force have already made plans to quickly sign another halfback to take Henjak's place as soon as possible. It is known that the Perth franchise has approached one Australian halfback playing overseas.

The Herald has also been told that the Henjak/Sare incident has deeply divided the Force, with numerous team officials and players as stunned as the ARU that Henjak was allowed to travel to South Africa.