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Kurtley Beale’s future in Australian rugby remains up in the air with the troubled playmaker officially overlooked for the Wallabies’ spring tour squad on Wednesday.
Beale faces a code-of-conduct hearing on Friday, the same day the squad departs for Europe, following his in-flight confrontation with Di Patston and subsequent revelations that he’d also sent lewd text messages to teammates about the former Wallabies staffer.
With a long rap sheet, Beale’s fate lay in the hands of District Court judge Mark Williams SC, who will chair a three-person panel also featuring former Wallaby David Giffin and barrister Dominic Villa.
Giffin is representing the ARU, with Villa appearing for the Rugby Union Players’ Association.
Seemingly not even Wednesday’s appointment of his NSW Waratahs mentor and close ally Michael Cheika as the new Wallabies coach can help Beale.
“I won’t be answering any questions on that today because there’s no way that I want to prejudice what’s going to happen with Kurtley on Friday,” Cheika said.
Patston resigned as the Wallabies’ business and logistics manager earlier this month citing stress following the ordeal which triggered one of the most tumultuous fortnights in Australian rugby history.
The saga also claimed the scalp of coach Ewen McKenzie, who stood down after Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup loss to New Zealand believing he had lost the respect of his Wallabies charges.
Skipper Michael Hooper and vice-captain Adam Ashley-Cooper, while refusing to condone Beale’s behaviour, last week both came out in support of their Test and state teammate.
It is unclear whether McKenzie or Patston, due to no longer being employees of the ARU, will give evidence at Friday’s hearing when Beale faces a charge of breaching section 7.3 of the ARU’s Member Protection policy, which relates to anti-discrimination and harassment.
Pulver on Wednesday said the fact Beale was currently suspended and preparing to front the hearing as the Wallabies fly to Europe was in no way a reflection that the ARU already deemed him guilty of any wrongdoing.
“Let me comment on the timing issue,” Pulver said.
“We had originally scheduled the tribunal to be held on the 13th of October.
“Kurtley’s legal team came back and quite justifiably said that they needed more time.
“It’s clearly longer than I think everybody would’ve liked, but it was really in response to request from his legal team.”
With his future in Australian rugby uncertain, Beale has already been linked to a switch to the NRL or French rugby.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.