Tupou tribunal for Bulls

Winger in dispute with Bulls over terms of contract

Last updated: 17th March 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Tupou tribunal for Bulls

Tupou: tribunal

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Former New Zealand Test winger Tame Tupou has taken Bradford to a Rugby Football League tribunal as he bids to stop the Bulls from terminating his contract with the club.

Tupou has not played since undergoing reconstructive knee surgery last June and Bradford are now seeking to release him from the final 18 months of his deal.

The contract that Tupou signed in June 2007 states that the Bulls are entitled to annul the agreement should the player be unavailable for 26 weeks in a 52-week period.

The tribunal sitting has been adjourned for a week to allow the panel members to consider what constitutes 'training'.

The former Brisbane Bronco made just nine appearances due to knee and rib injuries last season and is still not considered fit to resume playing.

Tupou, who was represented at the tribunal by Leeds-based sports lawyer Richard Cramer, argued that he is able to train and is effectively not in breach of his contract but Bradford claimed the extent of his injuries mean an effective return is not imminent.

Tupou joined the Bulls in the summer of 2007 as a replacement for Lesley Vainikolo, who joined Gloucester.

Bradford, who were represented at Tuesday's tribunal by chairman Peter Hood and head coach Steve McNamara, claim they were not told the extent of Tupou's injury.