Wallabies Kurtley Beale and Cooper Vuna have been sent home from South Africa following an alleged fracas hours after the Melbourne Rebels slumped to a franchise record 64-7 Super Rugby defeat in Durban.
Rebels officials were investigating after the pair are believed to have clashed following a visit to a local nightspot on the Rebels’ team bus.
A News Limited report says 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 later published on fan website Green and Gold Rugby.
When a Twitter user, named @heart_Madrid, asked Vuna if his alleged assailant “was drunk”, the Rebels back 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’s clash with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein 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.
Rebels media manager Adam Freier issued a statement on the matter on Sunday afternoon but indicated the club would not name the players involved until it had been dealt with.
He said no outside parties were involved.
“The Melbourne Rebels would like to respond to reports of an incident between players following the team’s bus trip home to their hotel in Umhlanga,” said the statement.
“The club is treating this matter as serious and a full internal investigation has begun with the players involved.
“Therefore, the club cannot provide any further comment until the internal investigation is completed.”
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.
Earlier, Rebels coach Damien 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.
“Even though it’s a new team, you’ve got to be prepared to leave blood on the field when you’re playing a team like the Sharks and our guys didn’t.”
In their third season, the new team excuse is wearing thin and their sorry tally of 19 turnovers and 31 missed tackles told the story of an abject defeat by a Sharks team bristling after being humbled by the Brumbies a week earlier.
Wii
Guest
Their opposed to there ;-) Not that my spelling is that great Johnno lolol I do agree with what you are saying for sure.
Wii
Guest
Exactly it's their way of garnering public Sympathy. Player A gets on the turps does something stupid, Quick media release he's an Alcoholic that should keep the wolves at bay for a few weeks. The guy seems to have an attitude skip the jit and cut to the chase. Beale is a muppet with anger prima Donna issues. The sooner the powers that be take a stand and make an example of him much like the NZRU did Guildford the better.
Malo
Guest
Rebels love to party. Get rid of the rebels they are embarrassing any club side could beat them . Beale is crap cant tackle no league team would go near him, let him go to Japan he should not get special treatment but will be let off again. How full of themselves are the 3 amigos they are destroying the reputation of the gold jersey.
The Battered Slav
Guest
What a ridiculous statement Matthew. Reverse snobbery I I've ever seen it.
Jonny Boy Jnr
Guest
Relax Matty, Just because I went to a private school doesn't mean I'll make you iron my shirt. The grass ain't always greener - not with a turquoise swimming pool in the backyard *
Johnno
Guest
Matt exactly, the ARU should cut these clowns , there overrated flat track bullies who were school boy stars, but on the world stage there not that brilliant, none of them would make a world 15 .
Johnno
Guest
Matt funny tihng was, Matt Rogers was a private school boy himself I think he even played for aussy schoolboys rugby. He went to the southport school from memory, so he had a rah rah background and a league one via his dad.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
The whole thing is caused by the Private Schools Lobby wAnting to keep Rugby their plaything the only way to do that is restrict the number of players/teams and of course try and avoid a national competition-of course they need to win with the wallabies every so often just to make an 'appearance' of being a bona fide national sport so they need to 'inject' real talented players every so often hence the advent of tuquiri Rodgers walker and the golden foursome of course-it's all a kinda rotten scheme and cruel hoax to any public school kid who dreams of playing for Australia and think they are on a level playing field
Matthew Skellett
Guest
On the button again Johnno couldnt have said it better myself ;-)
AndyS
Guest
Yep, pretty much. It comes up every couple of years and guess what this year is... http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/01/17/wallaby-beale-says-league-in-his-future/ It's used to pump his contract but who knows, he may have been prophetic this time.
Bruce
Guest
Really? Every time? How often does his contract come up for re-negotiation? Would it be in his interest to do so? I wonder if "the little grub" isn't feeling just a little lack of love from the rugby family.
AndyS
Guest
It is where he threatens to go every time his contract is up for re-negotiation.
Bruce
Guest
What's rugby league got to do with this?
Worlds Biggest
Guest
What the hell was Beale doing on this tour in the first place ? Since when do injured players travel to South Africa, simply ludicrous. Given Beales form it was inevitable he would get on the p!ss. He needs to be severely reprimanded over this as a repeat offender. The guy needs to give up the booze if he wants to save his Wallaby career. The three amigos think there sh&t don't stink at times and it's detrimental to Australian Rugby. Cooper is a tool, JOC ego is out of control while Beale needs to get off the drink. All three are Molly coddled by Deans. If they didn't play for the Wallabies again I couldn't care less. I want selfless team orientated guys representing the Wallabies. I don't include Ioane with this group as he has had one indiscretion that I'm aware of. Have the ARU got the stones to discipline Beale and the other clowns if they fall foul again before the Lions series.
Jonny Boy Jnr
Guest
Who cares about Kurtley Beale??? He had a good Tri-Nations and end of Spring tour in 2010 and since then has been ordinary to very poor. Send the little grub over to Rugby League (if they'll have him). The guy I'm worried about is O'Connor - he is in serious danger of becoming a Giteau eg superstar one day, fodder the next. It's not the end of the world for the Wallabies if flakes like Cooper and Beale fall by the wayside. O'Connor is in a different class (or was)
AndyS
Guest
Henjak had his contract ripped up for much the same offence and has been overseas since. From memory the ARU line was along the lines that playing was a privilege rather than a right and the image of the game had to be protected above all. Wonder if the same rules will apply this time?
bluerose
Guest
exactly Hoy, they always blame the alcohol.
bluerose
Guest
the amigos (in these case amigo) needs a good kick in the backside, disrespecting the Captain, come on man, he's lucky to smiling with all teeth still intact.
Johnno
Guest
Sad thing is , Delve and Vuna will somehow be rotted in all this, and even blamed in all this, and lose there contacts, or some other form of under mining. Beale, JOC, Qaude, Digby Ioane, all protected species, sack these self-destructive clowns, there not even that good anyway, haven't' played a good game in 2 or even in Qaude's case 3 years, when it counts.
baldy by the sea
Guest
Fine BEALE $100,000 with a final warning before the sack. IOANNE, COOPER @ O'CONNOR on last warnings before termination of theirl contracts. These blokes have been out of control for over a year. If the general public ever hear the truth Australian Rugby will lose many fans. We do not need these blokes they need Australian Rugby.