What is Bill Pulver's role in the Beale debacle?

Pulver states he is a national treasure so supported Beale to the hilt

The whole text message seems like a storm in tea cup to me (excuse the pun). It was tasteless, it was one off, and it led to an apology which was accepted by the injured party. That's the way these matters should be settled, through having 'crucial' conversations between the parties involved. Formal investigations achieve nothing, they are not constructive. To drag this matter through the mud after it was already settled is a knee jerk reaction and unneccessary.

It's not the same as a normal work place. You or I doing this would not make the press, we would be sacked almost on suspicion. The profile of Beale and the media speculation made it necessary for the CEO to get involved. Notwithstanding he has taken a position on the issue. Regardless of the outcome the optics of this saga are very poor. They reflect badly on the ARU leadership at all levels, including MacKenzie and of course if reports are to be believed, Beale. Shambolic administration that easily explains the Wallabies poor performances and lack of progress under the new management. The disfunctional culture in the ARU has been the subject of much speculation over the years, it appears these reports have merit and Pulver has done little to change it. The board should also be held to account for,their decision making, after all they appointed both Pulver and MacKenzie and have presided over this mess. I love rugby and the Wallabies. I want it fixed. Maybe it's time to bring in an experienced professional sports administrator to clean house. The board would be a good place to start if the reports are proven to have merit.

I agree Don. If Izzy is gonna blackmail the ARU then see ya Izzy. It was great while it lasted.

So cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel.

Let him go. I'm probably different to others but this "player power" campaign needs to be balanced with some commercial reality. Rugby in Aus is perhaps at its lowest ebb. Sponsorships are at risk, ratings (share of audience) are lower than ever for the last decade and tests are not selling out. The income that players (managers) demand isn't there. The Wallabies players need to realise that their own performance is having the biggest negative impact on the state of the game and therefor their own earning ability domestically. If Folau left, if KB gets sacked, if Will Genia leaves, the game will continue. We have fullbacks that can play really well albeit a different style to Folau. We will have fit wings next season. Willie G has been poor for a year. If Michael Hooper is calling for an "honesty" session then hopefully the players are honest and admit they are playing well below what is expected of top tier international rugby players. Blame the coach all we like. The coach doesn't make players pass behind people without any pressure, miss tackles, drop simple passes, shirk hard contact etc. We are not being let down by a lack of game plan. We are being let down by game day deficiencies in basic skills and effort from our players. Frankly I don't care if we win or lose on Saturday. I just want to see 23 fellas in gold have a red hot go and rip in. If the current crop want to be prima donnas and expect to be treated like rock stars then bring in some new players who are eager for a go, not jaded by politics or "better times" and fight every game for the right to be in the starting side.

Pulvers role is limited to incompetence, lack of balls and lack of communication with McKenzie. If McKenzie never spoke to him about this then bye-bye Link, you are the weakest! If he did speak to him and Pulver allowed it to fester into this monster then bye-bye Pulver and McKenzie. Say hello to a multi million sexual harassment case, with a lot more evidence than the woman at DJ's.

Wallabies by 50, this is just Link playing the ultimate poker face mind games. Part of Links cunning plan

It's rarely about "did someone break a specific rule," when you are looking at a leader. It's about good or poor judgment. It's about whether he has the players' trust and respect. If Beale--as crude and immature as his words appear to have been--was giving voice to the predominant feelings and perceptions of the players re Link-Di (annoyance, embarrassment, etc.) and maybe even Link's leadership style, then whilst Beale needs discipline, the larger issue is: does Australia have a better option than Link? If so, do it.

The ARU need to be extremely careful how they handle this, if Beale is made a scapegoat the fallout from supporters and the playing group could be severe. What a rabble.

it is in the interest of both management and the players to resolve, post end-of-year-tour 2013 and pre EOYT 2014 to ask the questions: What are the rules for nights out for the players? Do they know these rules and the consequences of breaking these rules? Have the players signed off on these rules? It has always been my contentiion that the position of management was weak in the aftermath of the Dublin incident if the curfew rules were not crystal clear to the players, since in the recent past such rules have been honored more in breach than in observance.

The independent inquiry is the result of an agreement between ARU and RUPA after the last year's incidents on tour. RUPA requested all discipline hearing of serious incidents to be conducted independently. Pulver probably would want the incidence to go away but his hands are tied. If Spiro is correct which I suspect he is. Pulver's action is always a result of me-first mentality. The same as those of Link. As to Beale, I hope that he gets an impartial hearing by a proper judge with adequate legal representation.

Tony veitch on talksport nz reported that if beale is sacked then folau says he will go back to league.

What a waste of time. Pulver is doing what anyone should do in his position.

Finally some sense on the matter, thank you RobC.

If the CEOs actions are in question then an independent enquiry is surely a good outcome. They can take a look at everyone involved. Whoever Heads the enquiry might need to employ someone to turn out the lights at St Leonards.

My understanding is that the integrity system was set up after complaints from RUPA and players from the EOYT disciplinary actions. The ARU has been forced to use it through 'player power' otherwise this issue would have been resolved by now.

aha. A better way to explain it

Thanks for the article. Interesting question. Im not aware of the latest / specific Oz situation re HR laws and IR My understanding of HR related internal investigations in Australia is not really well defined. Unless its well documented, clear cut offenses with a clear precedence, then it goes to external investigation - especially for senior members, and complex issues. The nature of the issue is not as straightforward as dealing with a simple shirt-change policy. Issues to be raised and considered include: - sexual harassment / discrimination experienced by a person - through action, or envirornment created either by another person (eg KB) and/or by the organisation that person represents (eg ARU)* - misconduct / insubordination, over a period of time. Considering different offences over a period of time - understanding of the personal relationships between the two and others over a period of time. - potential harassment / treatment / discrimination / or circumstance KB may have been subjected to, by coaching, administration *It seems this matter has been isolated to the individual, considering the scope of the investigation A quick internal decision by Pulver in this scenario would be naive. Its runs a high risk of creating a bigger mess.

No one can make firm opinions on rumour and inuendo. Until the inquiry is held, everything else is guesswork, and assumption.