Wallaby Kurtley Beale will miss Australia’s spring tour of Europe, despite being cleared for selection by a code of conduct tribunal, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) said on Saturday.
The tribunal found Beale guilty of sending an offensive text message to an ARU employee and fined him $Aus45,000 (US$38,500) but did not suspend him, meaning he was eligible to play.
“The Australian Rugby Union today confirmed Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika has advised Kurtley Beale will not join the squad for the Spring Tour,” an ARU spokesman said.
“From time to time there are changes to personnel during tours, due to injury or other matters, and we will advise if there are any changes to this position.”
The Wallabies left on Friday for their five-match tour to Europe, and Beale had been considered likely to join the team following the tribunal’s decision.
ARU chief executive Bill Pulver said late Friday he would inform Cheika of the tribunal’s decision about Beale, admitting the player had been involved in a number of off-field incidents.
“I don’t want to speculate right now, on the future in relation to Kurtley but I think it’s fair to say he has had a lot of indiscretions,” Pulver told reporters.
Beale sent the phone message to team business manager Di Patston, who has since resigned from her position.
The tribunal could not establish whether a second more offensive text message and photograph had been sent by Beale, and he avoided suspension and having his contract terminated.
Beale said he was innocent regarding the second text.
The fall-out over the texts saw Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie abruptly quit last weekend and the ARU scramble to appoint Cheika, who coaches Super Rugby’s NSW Waratahs, ahead of the Europe tour.
Following Friday night’s decision, Beale apologised for breaching the code of conduct.
“I’m relieved there is no termination and no suspension and I can now continue playing rugby,” he said.
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