Quokka shockers face axe
WESTERN Force Super 14 players have been questioned further about their wild night of terrorising protected native animals - the Rottnest Island quokkas - and face having their contracts torn up if serious misconduct is proved.
Evidence given to the Western Force club and Rottnest Island Authority by eyewitness Dan Andrews indicates that more than four players were involved in man-handling the quokkas around 10pm last Friday.
Andrews has already told authorities of the slam-dunk diving antics by one player using a milk crate to trap the animals, as well as a second player swinging one quokka by the tail and releasing it like a hammer-throw.
But Andrews told the Herald there were more than four players involved in handling the quokkas. He said they repeatedly picked up the marsupials by their tails and ran around the green area adjoining the accommodation barracks.
Rugby WA chairman Geoff Stooke said the club had received information from Andrews and had reactivated its own investigation in light of the allegations detailed in yesterday's Herald.
And the ARU - already displeased with the Perth franchise following a series of lurid headlines - said it was keeping a close eye on yet another controversial episode in the west.
"The ARU is aware of the further allegations made today to both RugbyWA and the Rottnest Island Authority about the mistreatment of quokkas last Friday," a statement to AAP said.
"We will continue to monitor the situation and await the outcome of Rugby WA's inquiries into the allegations."
Earlier this week the Western Force's misconduct committee found there had been "no mistreatment" of the quokkas after rangers found no evidence of dead or injured animals in that area. However, four Western Force players had admitting handling the quokkas on the night. A team official had said the players were just being "curious".
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