Cheika wants to keep Beale
New Wallaby coach Michael Cheika has made no secret of the fact that he wants to retain the services of polemical star Kurtley Beale, but added that he won't interfere in his disciplinary process.
Beale faces a code of conduct hearing on Friday, at the same time that Australia fly out for their year-end tour.
His hearing comes in the wake of the revelations that he sent rude comments and naked pictures to former Wallaby staffer Di Patston – who has since resigned.
She was followed out the door by coach Ewen McKenzie, who handed in his resignation just hours before the Wallabies' one-point loss to the All Blacks last Saturday.
Cheika was appointed as McKenaie's replacement on Wednesday.
While Cheika would love to have his Waratahs playmaker on the plane with him, the newly appointed coach is staying out of the politics to avoid prejudicing Beale's hearing.
''There's no doubt he had a great season last year,"Cheika told a media briefing.
But I'm sure that Friday everything that needs to get done will get done".
''But it's pretty important that I stay out of it and let it take its course.''
Cheika said he spoke to Beale earlier this week, while Australian Rugby Union Chief Executive Bill Pulver admitted during his unveiling of the new Wallabies coach that the pair had discussed the backline ace during contract negotiations.
Cheika is privately very concerned about the ramifications of the Waratahs losing Beale should he be found guilty of misconduct and not be offered a new ARU contract.
Apart from that dreaded scenario leaving the Waratahs impossibly short of time to find a quality replacement ahead of their Super Rugby title defence commencing in February, Cheika fears losing Beale would also impact on the franchise's ability to recruit other stars.
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.
Even if Beale, who has a long rap sheet, is cleared of misconduct, Cheika said that didn't necessarily mean he'd be on the next plane to Europe for Wallabies showdowns with the Barbarians, Wales, France, Ireland and England on successive Saturdays in November.
''I wouldn't put it that way just yet,'' Cheika said on Nine's Today show.
''You've got to just let it pan out.''
Source: AAP
