THE Brumbies scandal has taken a dramatic twist with revelations that under-fire chief executive Michael Jones has launched a workplace investigation into the behaviour of senior players Stephen Moore and Scott Fardy.

Moore, the Wallabies captain, and Fardy, a Brumbies board member, have now been roped into the ongoing battle between Jones and the club’s board that is becoming uglier by the day despite both parties agreeing to mediation.

The nature of the complaints against Moore and Fardy are unclear.

Are these allegations the reason for Stephen Moore leaving the club next season? Source: Getty Images

What is clear is that by taking this action, Jones has burnt his bridges with the playing group and it seems inevitable he will depart the Brumbies soon in acrimony.

When contacted on Friday, Jones would “not confirm or deny” that he had written to the board to inform them of his decision to launch a workplace investigation into Moore and Fardy.

The Daily Telegraph has been able to ascertain that Jones is taking action against the pair.

Moore, who has yet to be formally notified of the investigation, was shocked to learn of the development, saying: “I don’t know anything about it”.

The relationship between Jones and Moore has been sour for some time, and was evident when a press release issued by the Brumbies last December about Moore’s decision to sign with Queensland from 2017 including strongly-worded quotes from the CEO against the club captain.

The Brumbies face defending Super Rugby champions the Highlanders in Invercargill on Saturday and this is the last thing they need.

Brumbies CEO Michael Jones has dragged Stephen Moore and Scott Fardy (pictured) into the club’s ongoing saga. Source: AAP

While Moore and coach Stephen Larkham have been saying for weeks that the office powerplay would not affect the playing group, the fact two key players are now involved in the saga makes that unlikely.

Jones is embroiled in mediation with the Brumbies board after he gave an explosive radio interview in March during which he said: “If I go to war it’s going to be ugly, and there’s going to be a lot of people who are going to get burnt by it.”

Jones had earlier referred the sale of the Brumbies’ Griffith headquarters — before he arrived at the club — to police for investigation after discovering anomalies in paperwork.

A forensic audit on the paperwork was done, and Jones and the Brumbies board, along with the ARU, decided to refer the matter to police and that investigation is ongoing.

Brumbies CEO Michael Jones. Source: Getty Images

In the interview to ABC radio, Jones said he was being “pushed hard” from people outside the club in relation to a federal police investigation.

But his comments led to the Brumbies board standing Jones down.

Jones then took the club to the ACT Supreme Court claiming he was entitled to temporary whistleblower protection, and got an injunction against the Brumbies’ decision.

Jones returned to work, though his relationship with board members remain strained.

After rejecting an offer to leave last week, Jones and the board agreed to a mediation process this week in which the Brumbies hoped he would accept a financial package to depart the club.

Now, the revelation he wants Moore and Fardy investigated makes the waters murkier.