Bad boy Beale faces new allegations
Troubled Wallaby Kurtley Beale faces new allegations of having breached the players' code of conduct.
It is almost certain the latest revelations will result in Beale not being offered a new contract by the Australian Rugby Union.
It was revealed by ARU the that a new disciplinary allegation involving the utility back, Beale, will be referred to a tribunal.
Beale was dropped for the last Rugby Championship Test against Argentina last Saturday, after an ugly in-flight public spat with members of the team management.
ARU Chief Executive Bill Pulver said Thursday that while investigating the incident, during the flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo, officials were made aware of another matter involving Beale and text messages he sent in June.
The ARU said Beale will not be considered for Australian selection until the tribunal concludes.
The Wallabies will name a team on Friday for next Saturday's Test against New Zealand in Brisbane.
The additional matter was raised for the first time with ARU management earlier this week, during a separate investigation into an in-flight incident between Beale and three members of the Wallaby management team on Sunday, September 28.
Pulver said it is appropriate for the allegations to be assessed independently due to their serious nature.
"This matter relates to Kurtley Beale allegedly distributing what we consider highly inappropriate and deeply offensive text messages and images to a number of people in June, referencing an ARU staff member," Pulver said.
"We became aware of this incident this week and believe an independent Tribunal is the appropriate forum for these allegations to be considered.
"This also provides Kurtley with an opportunity to present his response to the matter through an impartial process.
"The investigation into the argument on the plane has become a secondary matter in recent days, with our focus diverted to these new allegations.
"We will finalise the investigation into the in-flight argument in due course."
The code of conduct tribunal will be chaired by district court judge Mark Williams and will include representatives nominated by the ARU and the Rugby Union Players' Association.
The date for the code of conduct tribunal hearing will be set in coming days, but it is expected to proceed early next week.
