Test forward Gallen fined for Twitter rant at NRL

27 October 2014 09:01

New South Wales captain Paul Gallen was fined Aus$50,000 (US$44,000) on Monday and handed a provisional Kangaroos Test suspension for an explosive tirade against NRL officials on social media.

The National Rugby League said it imposed the heaviest possible code of conduct fine on the Cronulla Sharks skipper. He will also be ineligible for Australian selection in 2015 unless he successfully completes a leadership course.

Gallen has seven days to respond to the breach notice and explain any mitigating factors that might have contributed to his Twitter rant.

The uncompromising forward fired off the offensive tweet after news filtered through of chief executive Steve Noyce's enforced departure from the Sharks.

It read: "Steve Noice (sic) actually cared about players from Cronulla's feelings. Couldn't say that about any other c*** from Nrl."

Gallen apologised and later deleted the post after a furore on social media.

The Kangaroos Test forward is currently serving a doping ban following an investigation into his NRL club Cronulla's supplement programme.

Source: AFP