League's latest drama to be
settled internally

The South Sydney Rabbitohs held a four hour board meeting this morning to discuss claims by five-eighth Owen Craigie that coach Paul Langmack was racist towards him.

26-year-old Craigie claims Langmack made a comment that he considered to be racist last season, but at the time decided to take no action. Langmack denies the claim.

According to newspaper reports today, Craigie was preparing to take legal action against both Langmack and Souths, the troubled player alleging Langmack made inappropriate comments about his colour and weight last season.

Craigie, who has struggled with his fitness in previous seasons, says he confided in former Australian test centre Terry Hill about the comments.

Today, the Rabbitohs emerged with news that the pair had both agreed that a private resolution to the matter would be in the best interests of all involved.

?South Sydney, more than any other sporting club in this country, values, and is underpinned by, its deep connections with the indigenous community,? said Souths Chairman Nicholas Pappas.

?As such, any allegation of racial vilification is treated with the utmost seriousness

?In the interests of all concerned, including our vast supporter base drawn from the indigenous community, it was essential that the Club act speedily and with total transparency.?

The lengthy board meeting started at 7am this morning and was attended by both Langmack and Craigie.

A sub-committee appointed by the Rabbitohs board will hear both sides of the story at a specially convened meeting on Tuesday.

The sub-committee comprises Pappas, Board members Sol Bellear, Ray Martin and Nick Greiner, and Chief Executive Officer David Tapp.

It?s understood that Craigie has dropped all pending legal action against Langmack and the club.

Pappas says he is hoping for a speedy resolution to the drama, which comes as rugby league continues to be engulfed with sexual assault allegations against players from the Bulldogs and the Melbourne Storm.

?Put simply, racial vilification has no place at South Sydney,? Mr Pappas said.

It?s unknown if the results of the dispute will be made public, or if the Rabbitohs will hide behind a Bulldogs-style privacy clause.