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October 10, 2014

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Beale’s Wallaby woes worsen

WALLABIES back Kurtley Beale has been suspended pending a probe into “deeply offensive” text messages about a team official he allegedly sent earlier this year, the Australian Rugby Union said yesterday.

Beale was already facing disciplinary charges over a bust-up with a team official on a flight from South Africa to Argentina for a Rugby Championship test last week but that issue was now “a secondary matter”, ARU chief Bill Pulver told a news conference.

“This matter relates to Kurtley Beale allegedly distributing what we consider highly inappropriate and deeply offensive text messages and images to a number of people in June, referencing an ARU staff member,” Pulver said in Sydney.

“We became aware of this incident this week and believe an independent tribunal is the appropriate forum for these allegations to be considered.”

The 25-year-old, who has played 47 times for his country, would not be considered for selection for Australia until an impartial “Code of Conduct Tribunal” reached a conclusion, Pulver said.

That means he will definitely miss the test against New Zealand in Brisbane on October 18.

Beale, who started the Rugby Championship as first choice flyhalf, had in any case been dropped for the final match of the competition against Argentina in Mendoza, which the Pumas won 21-17.

That match had been overshadowed by the mid-air row between Beale and team business manager Di Patston, which was reportedly triggered when the player was asked to change his shirt.

Patston returned home early from the tour and is now on indefinite sick leave.




 

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