Ryan Tandy has been axed by Canterbury Bulldogs in the wake of the Australian NRL betting scandal.
Canterbury expel beleaguered former Ireland prop
Ryan Tandy has been axed by Canterbury Bulldogs in the wake of the Australian NRL betting scandal.
The former Hull KR and Widnes prop has been charged by police over his alleged involvement in a sting surrounding a match against North Queensland last season.
Tandy, who represented Ireland in the 2008 World Cup, is also alleged to have placed a bet on a match between the Bulldogs and Gold Coast.
The player attended a meeting with the club's board on Friday but refused to answer any questions on legal advice, leaving the Bulldogs with little choice but to let him go.
"The purpose of the show cause hearing was to determine whether Mr Tandy had placed a bet in relation to the Bulldogs game against the Gold Coast Titans on 18 June 2010, in which he played for the club," Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said.
Untenable
"Mr Tandy declined to answer the club's question concerning this issue, based on legal advice.
"The club formed the view that it was untenable for Mr Tandy to remain employed by the club and continue to be paid his salary in circumstances where he was refusing to provide information about a matter that is wholly within his knowledge, and relates to duties which he expressly owes to the club.
"It is important to note that the action taken by the club today is distinct and separate from the serious criminal charges that Mr Tandy is facing.
"Mr Tandy is, of course, entitled to the presumption of innocence in relation to those charges."
Tandy was arrested and charged for lying to the NSW Crime Commission investigating suspicious betting practice surrounding last year's round-24 clash with North Queensland.
Tandy was one of several players investigated over the match in which the Cowboys were heavily backed to score first from a penalty goal. Tandy dropped the ball and then gave away a penalty in front of the posts at the start of that match, although the Cowboys opted for a quick tap and scored a try.
Tandy has pleaded not guilty to four charges of providing false evidence to police over the alleged NRL betting sting. He is due in court on April 7.
