Wallabies Kurtley Beale and Cooper Vuna have been sent home from South Africa following a fracas hours after the Melbourne Rebels slumped to a franchise record 64-7 Super Rugby defeat in Durban.
Beale is alleged to have punched Vuna on the Rebels’ team bus following a visit to a local nightspot.
An investigation was conducted the morning after the incident with coach Damien Hill saying they had both broken team protocol.
They will miss the Rebels’ clash with the Cheetahs next weekend in Bloemfontein with further disciplinary action a possibility.
“The club will no longer tolerate this type of behaviour and I am embarrassed for everyone associated with building this club,” Hill said in a statement.
Rebels chief executive Steven Boland said as both Beale and Vuna were contracted Wallabies it was also a matter for the Australian Rugby Union.
“There can be no excuses for the disrespect shown to the Melbourne Rebels Rugby Club by these players,” Boland said.
The incident is understood to have followed an argument between Beale and Rebels captain Gareth Delve after Delve ordered Beale to put his shirt back on before the bus reached the hotel.
Hours after the Rebels’ humiliating record 10-try defeat by the Sharks in Durban on Saturday night (early Sunday AEDT), Vuna tweeted that Beale had punched him.
“I need to leave right now, this ain’t for me! I tried to help someone but got punched so instead of putting him in hospital il leave!” Vuna posted at 1.27am local time (11.27am AEDT).
The tweet was deleted about half an hour later but remains archived.
When a Twitter user, named @heart_Madrid, asked Vuna if his alleged assailant “was drunk”, the Rebels winger replied: Hmmmmm his name is @kurtley_beale bloody grub!”
Beale didn’t play in the match as he continues his recovery from hand surgery but was expected to be available next week while the Sharks game was Vuna’s first competition match this season after a shoulder injury.
Vuna, who played two Tests last year, has been on a self-imposed alcohol ban.
Beale is facing assault allegations arising from an incident at a Brisbane night spot last year, in which he was alleged to have hit a bouncer.
The case was sent to mediation late last month, with the first session to take place next month.
Following the embarrassing loss Hill had questioned his players’ pride in their jersey following their heavy loss to the Sharks which surpassed their previous biggest defeat of 53-3 by the Queensland Reds in their first year in the competition in 2011.
“Our guys just didn’t show up and it’s quite embarrassing to be honest,” said Hill, with his team 13th on the ladder with one win for the season.
“It’s probably the worst defeat I’ve ever been associated with through the club and I’m really questioning the pride these guys have in the jersey.
Misdiagnosis
Guest
Beale is a bloke who cant handle his alcohol and becomes anti social when drunk. This does not mean he is an alcoholic , a term thrown around far too loosely and frequently in the media and in the comments section here. An alcoholic has an actual physical addiction to alcohol and who suffers physical withdrawal symptoms when alcohol is unavailable . These withdrawal symptoms can be life threatening . When discussing a dangerous medical condition please use the correct terminology . Kurtley is a problem drinker , not an alcoholic.
Sprigs
Guest
We all need to ponder our motivations, Jonny Boy, even if it gives us a headache. Even pups can recognise dog whistles.
JDP
Roar Guru
Agree 100% I hope that people in Australia do not associate Beale's actions with his racial background. It was just a professional sportsperson who had too much grog.
JDP
Roar Guru
Unproven at international level and Mogg now is nowhere near where Kurtley was in 2010. Having said that Mogg is looking great, hope he can keep building, maybe some competitive pressure for his position in the Wallabies will help Kurtley rebuild following this debacle.
JustinB
Guest
Which hand did he have surgery on and which hand did he use to punch with? If they are one and the same hand, whoever is paying for his surgery and rehabilitation, could make a case to sue him. Make no difference if he was sober or not.
Steve
Guest
I was going to call him out for the same thing, but a quick Google image search suggests he's actually got a point!
Jonny Boy Jnr
Guest
'Hit the Bricks' Sprigsy. The glow from your halo is giving is all a headache..
Sam
Guest
It seems like Kurtley cant handle his drinks maybe he should have the gold jersey taken off him this year we dont not this crap going on in such a big year for Australian rugby.
The Battered Slav
Guest
Why play that card in such masked terms Sprigs, or even at all? Get a grip man, he is allegedly taking swings at team mates, including his captain. But yes, obviously everybody is so up in arms because he's indigenous, not due to his actions. You sir, a clearly a bit of a muppet. Don't let your misplaced and extreme political correctness get in the way of the allegations, you might just end up looking very foolish...
Bruce
Guest
Pouring scorn on rugby league clubs makes a rugby union player's anti social behaviour more palatable to you?
AndyS
Guest
And similarly, let's hope that misplaced political correctness does not allow people to rationalise away yet another incident in what is obviously a serious problem...
B-Rock
Roar Guru
If the coach didn't want them to go out he shouldn't have organised a team bus for 1:30am - you are right in that Hill needs to be looked at as he doesn't have the respect of the group Some of these blokes aren't adults, frankly they need a curfew as they clearly can't control themselves. The problems that result from being a superstar at 16, never learn responsibility
Sprigs
Guest
Let's hope the level of bitterness in the attacks on this young man, obviously affected by society's dangerous intoxicant of choice, don't have the extra energy afforded by an unacknowledged prejudice.
Lock-n-loada
Guest
The irony is that a guy sitting out a game from a broken hand is throwing punches, that after a major loss they chose to go out on the town instead of having a few inhouse and he has the the audacity to challenge the captain!!!!!!- if reports are true Just unbelievable
Jonny Boy Jnr
Guest
Ditch the little grub He's had every opportunity - what a disgrace he is to his team, friends, family and country
Justin2
Guest
He may well need help but he also need to cop a sanction....
Matthew Skellett
Guest
'...Usually keep these issues in house in union.." well welcome to the modern age Turnover -no more shielding the narcissistic bullies from unwanted public scrutiny as to their true nature -too many avenues to say the truth and 'clear the air' these days -just a plain case of molly-coddled Mr Beale never learning from his mistakes because there is always someone willing to clean up the mess for him if he keeps 'doing da magic' -well the buck has finally stopped and Mr Beale has to face the music -won't be surprised if he signs with Easts or Canterbury -two entities who don't mind being the centre of notoriety
Sprigs
Guest
If he has a worse problem, then he needs help all the more.
Tembavj
Guest
Sprigs can you imagine any of the crusaders players punch McCaw, not even on Guilfords worst binge will he think about it
Sprigs
Guest
The Crusaders seems to have handled the Zac Guildford situation well, and now he back. Perhaps we could restrain the reflex to lash out at young men with problems -- whether they arise from alcohol, money, anger, fame or whatever. There are skilled professionals who can help guys get their lives together -- as we have seen in NZ. .