Brumbies players look to keep minds on the field and avoid club disputes at head office

BRUMBIES star Matt Toomua said players would look to insulate themselves from the off-field dramas buffeting the ACT club as the Michael Jones saga took another dramatic twist yesterday.

Matt Toomua of the Brumbies is tackled by Matt Hodgson of the Force during the Round 3 Super Rugby match between the Western Force and ACT Brumbies at NIB Stadium in Perth, Australia, Friday, March 11, 2016. (AAP Image/Will Russell) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

BRUMBIES star Matt Toomua said players would look to insulate themselves from the off-field dramas buffeting the ACT club as the Michael Jones saga took another dramatic twist yesterday.

With a court ruling still to come over whether the ousted CEO can stay in his job, Canberra club rugby presidents yesterday called for an extraordinary general meeting to be held next month, where they may seek to roll the Brumbies board.

The Brumbies board stood Jones down last week after inflammatory comments during an ABC radio interview.

Matt Toomua of the Brumbies is tackled by Matt Hodgson of the Force during the Round 3 Super Rugby match.

Jones won an injunction and began courting the support of club presidents, and with the votes of at least four clubs, the EGM was called for April 13.

A document posted at Brumbies headquarters listed a motion of a special resolution to dissolve the board and a normal resolution to appoint a new board.

It appears a strong sign that the Canberra clubs are lining up behind Jones in his battle with the Brumbies but there were also suggestions last night that the EGM was primarily called to force the board to explain why they stood down Jones.

Currently the Brumbies board is gagged by the courts from talking to the clubs, however. That could change when the legal action between Jones and the Brumbies is resolved, likely tomorrow.

If the Canberra clubs vote as a bloc, they could have 14 of 23 votes in the union but it remains unclear if the clubs are united.

Brumbies players had been shielded from the drama while on tour in South Africa but returned to Canberra this week.

Brumbies CEO Michael Jones and his wife leave the Supreme Court in Canberra.

Toomua said the players had discussed the off-field noise and made a commitment to not let it affect their game against the Chiefs on Saturday, or their season as a whole.

“It is a challenge and we have spoken about it, but it is not going to affect us as players,” Toomua said.

“We are genuinely focusing on training and playing. It is there, you can’t deny it’s not there. There are obviously people around town talking about it as well but we have to just make sure we focus on the rugby side of things because ultimately that’s what the Brumbies are known for. That’s our job.

“Rugby-wise, things are going quite well and we have had a good start to the year. We have a great playing group, we have a great high performance team and obviously good coaches as well. Our job is to get people’s minds on to that side of things again. Our minds are.”

Toomua said the Brumbies were pleased to return from a tough tour with some wins in their pocket.

“That was my ninth trip and I never won two games. I lost two a few times, so one from two is pretty good. And we viewed it as a three-week trip with the Force game first, so two wins from three was a good trip realistically,” he said.

“At home again now, if we can get this win before the bye we can say five from six from our first block of games and we’ll be pleased with that. A good start.”

Toomua was speaking at the launch of Skins’ rainbow laces initiative, where the Wallaby was lending his voice to the fight against homophobia in sport.

Toomua and other leading Aussie sports stars will wear the special shoelaces to promote sport being inclusive for people of all sexualities.

“There is a way to go but I think we have seen change and progress. The attitude around our team is very much it’s all sweet, no-one has an issue with it,” Toomua said.

“But in saying that, we still haven’t had anyone who has felt comfortable enough to come out while they’re playing and that’s what we are trying to get to. We want to provide an environment that any young player coming up feels comfortable to just be themselves. That’s why I am happy to be involved in the cause.”