Kurtley Beale
A request that Kurtley Beale change his T-shirt escalated into a heated inflight argument that has shrouded the playmaker in controversy, put a staff member’s future in doubt, and now threatens to engulf the Wallabies a day out from a Test match.
Wallabies team business manager Di Patston flew back to Sydney on Tuesday, two days after she and Beale were involved in a heated stoush across the aisle in the business class cabin of South Africa Airways flight 222 from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo on Sunday morning.
Sydney Morning Herald
The incident is under investigation by the head of the ARU’s integrity unit, Phil Thomson. Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie revealed no details of what was alleged to have occurred for fear, he said, of “a trial by media”.
What triggered the boilover, however, reveals a fraught picture of a team under immense pressure, individuals vulnerable after a bitter loss, and concerns about growing unease within the side.
“I was aware from the flight onwards,” McKenzie said on Wednesday when asked when he found out about the argument.
Fairfax Media understands McKenzie was sitting next to Patston on the flight and that it was a request from the head coach – that Beale change his T-shirt for another piece of team gear – which sparked the encounter.
McKenzie had made the same request of rookie second-rower Sam Carter, it is understood, and both players complied.
But Beale, in a foul mood after the side’s 28-10 loss to the Springboks 15 hours earlier, made a sarcastic comment as he returned to his seat.
The comment was questioned by Patston, according to witnesses in the cabin, and the pair argued with each other while McKenzie and other members of the touring party tried to intervene.
The team landed in Sao Paulo later that day and spent almost four hours in transit before making the three-hour flight to Argentina. By the time they were delivered to the Hotel Emperador in downtown Buenos Aires – without their luggage – it was midnight on Sunday.
The Wallabies had spent 24 hours on the road hours after losing their most brutal Test yet under McKenzie.
The Wallabies coach was notably absent from the side’s training session in the posh outer suburb of San Isidro on Tuesday afternoon, and it has since emerged he had personally escorted Patston to the airport to ensure she made her flight safely.
News of the incident did not filter out until the next morning, when the team was preparing to fly to Mendoza, their base for the rest of this week.
But what on the surface appeared to be yet another disciplinary issue involving Beale, who has battled a history of off-field and alcohol-related issues, rapidly emerged as a far more complex picture.
“[With] matters of integrity, you’ve actually got to protect the people involved until there is some sort of decision,” McKenzie said on Wednesday.
“There’s processes going on and, as I say, it’s awkward when you’re [on the other side of the world], but welfare and these matters are paramount from my perspective, and behaviour.”
Patston is a close and trusted confidante of McKenzie’s, who worked with the Super Rugby title-winning coach at the Queensland Reds in the role of team administrator between 2011 and 2013. She moved with him to the ARU when McKenzie was named Wallabies coach in August last year.
Her responsibilities, as listed on Patston’s LinkedIn profile, include management and oversight of individual and squad disciplinary matters, Wallabies staff, team finances, and acting as a liaison officer for the team.
Many inside the Wallabies consider her a hard-working and indispensable team member who has taken on more responsibility as ARU budget cuts bit hard.
On top of her day to day duties, Patston is understood to be heavily involved with the families of the squad’s Polynesian players, and often organises buses to games for their wives and girlfriends.
But it is understood some members of the playing group and management have felt growing unease at Patston’s expanding but blurry role within the team, which has seen her sit in on disciplinary matters and recently tour with the group overseas for the first time.
It is also understood that while no one condones Beale’s behaviour – for which he later apologised – a number inside the camp feel he is in danger of being unfairly made a scapegoat.
It is not known whether anyone has raised their concerns directly with McKenzie. Patston and the Wallabies were both contacted for comment.
The outcome of the ARU’s investigation is not expected to be known until after the Wallabies’ clash with the Pumas. Beale was dropped from the Wallabies squad for the Test.
While McKenzie balances the demands of managing a hugely sensitive situation, which could have serious ramifications for the off-contract Beale and an under-pressure staff member, he must also rally the side to make a statement on Saturday.
While Beale was not drinking on the flight, and denies being intoxicated, it is understood he and other teammates had consumed alcohol after the Test match – their only team-sanctioned opportunity to share a drink while in camp.
“These things are time-consuming, so I don’t pretend that I enjoy the distraction of it,” McKenzie said. “But matters of welfare are critical. Matters of behaviour are critical, too, to team culture, so I’m not going to sit here and leave things undone or not attended.
“I’ll follow the things through and obviously the ARU will take the lead on it but I’ll follow it through until [the end] and make sure things get sorted.”
This guy is such an idiot
@ nortierd:
Who’s an idiot?….
@ Te Rangatira:
Howzit TR…Kurtley, such a pity he doesn’t just concentrate on the rugby, he has a habit of getting involved in all sorts of off the field nonsense.
I doubt the Wallabies can afford this type of rubbish too, they are already under the cosh and the lead up to this test has been in enough disarray.
@ nortierd:
Hi Nortie… I get the feeling that there is more to this story than meets the eye… In the past..Kurtley has got into strife because of his drinking and behaviour… but this is slightly different and I think McKenzie’s judgement maybe called into question here…
@ Te Rangatira:
You reckon he is taking sides?
Picking her side perhaps?
McKenzie showed last year already that he isn’t one to entertain players not behaving or toeing the line….Beale should know better by now
@ nortierd:
Why was the staff member sent home and not Kurtley… who is getting disciplined here?…What is this women’s role in the team and why is she getting into arguments with a player who has had troubles in the past…Why did Link miss a training to take her to the airport…when I would’ve sent her there on a taxi..it sounds ??
@ Te Rangatira:
True, many questions, but ultimately with his history for getting into trouble he has paid the price
@ nortierd:
Exactly….this guy has history and even though every player should be treated the same….when dealing with someone with previous issues you don’t escalate the situation….that’s where I have an issue with people and I’ll say it,women, sticking their beaks into things and disrupting the team….
In my opinion the Wobblies should have a strict dress travel code. As professional sports people. There should be no debate.
What is there not to understand?
What amazes me is that it is the same players getting into kak. Time after time. Whether dopping. Whether twitter.
Link could have stepped in earlier before it escalated. Unless Patston was his chosen Rottweiler.
Have to admit that I am with Te Rangatira on this one… There might be more to this story.
@ MacroBok:
Might be, but doesn’t change the unfortunate fact that when it comes to Kurtley and rules and discipline, he usually finds himself on the wrong side of both……serial offender comes to mind
@ nortierd:
Yeah, Kurtley is a serial offender and his history counts against him…. but the Wallabies have a policy of looking after their Polynesian players, so is there something put in place for Kurtley and Aboriginal players?? who have their own separate needs….
@ Te Rangatira:
@ nortierd:
Sam Carter had the same t-shirt on. Both changed their shirts upon request.
Kurtley passed a sarcastic comment and caused kak. Again.
If he had been dressed appropriatetly – a wobblies t-shirt, just thinking – there would’ve been no kak.
But Kurtley chose the other route – clearly not thinking straight.
@ IAAS:
Hi IAAS… that’s how it was reported…”a sarcastic comment”….but why would she want to get involved in an argument over a cheeky comment…She is the Business Manager and shouldn’t get involved in that stuff imo…. Perhaps she couldn’t help herself and wanted to have a go, if that is the case then she should resign. As for Kurtley, well who knows…. he has let himself down again, but this incident should be judged in isolation methinks.
“McKenzie was sitting next to Patston on the flight and that it was a request from the head coach – that Beale change his T-shirt for another piece of team gear”
“But Beale, in a foul mood after the side’s 28-10 loss to the Springboks 15 hours earlier, made a sarcastic comment as he returned to his seat.”
IMO… this is clearly the fault of Beal and no one else. If Beal had made some sarcastic insulting and disrespectful (possibly sexist) remark why should Patston just sit there and take it just because she is a woman…? It also demonstrates Beal’s immaturity that he can’t accept a loss and feels he can take his petulance out on another “lesser” person in the squad…
The request had come from Mckenzie… so any remark from Beal sarcastic insulting or otherwise would have been directly or indirectly aimed at McKenzie too.
Also, McKenzie “had personally escorted Patston to the airport to ensure she made her flight safely.” Why…? Why did she leave and why was McKenzie worried about her safety…? Did Beal threaten her…? Women around the world are mistreated and disrespected by men verbally, psychologically and physically… it is a scourge… that most men ignore… and Beal has no right to insult her… or any other person for that matter.
Whichever way you slice it Te Rangatira… if Beal had just simply done what his coach had asked… and kept his mouth shut… there would have been no incident… So he must surely be solely responsible… and blame surely can’t be shifted onto Patston…?
This isn’t a rugby incident where the retaliator get’s penalised and the initiator gets off scot-free…
@ ufo:
Read the article….his own team mates are worried that Kurtley might be made a scapegoat for this incident. So to go off on a tangent and start turning it into some women safety issue is a bit too much…. Yeah, why did she get sent home? McKenzie himself said it was an integrity issue… no mention of being threatened by Beale…..
16 @ Te Rangatira:
actually Te Rangatira… you made this about women…
“that’s where I have an issue with people and I’ll say it,women, sticking their beaks into things and disrupting the team….”
maybe Beal also objects to being asked/told what to do… by a woman…
“when dealing with someone with previous issues you don’t escalate the situation….”
so we should all ignore and/or condone/walk-on-egg-shells in the face of repetitive bad behaviour for fear of escalating bad behaviour…?
you say his teammates are concerned… the article says “a number inside the camp…” how many…? definitely not all his teammates..
The article also says “Many inside the Wallabies consider her a hard-working and indispensable team member who has taken on more responsibility as ARU budget cuts bit hard.”
why do you assume it is Patston’s integrity in question here… and not Beal’s…?
if McKenzie was sitting next to Patston and asked Patston to ask Beal to change… Mckenzie can hardly question Patston’s integrity for doing as he asked her to do… and the issue only arose when Beal came back and made a sarcastic remark…?
Had Beal responded as Sam Carter had responded… there would be no issue to discuss… How does that become an issue of Patston’s integrity…?
and, if you say “read the article”… where does it say she was “sent home”…?
It’s entirely possible she wanted to go home after being insulted and disrespected by Beal…
as for her role in the team… that is a question McKenzie should answer, not Patston… he appointed her, as she is a trusted confidente of long standing… she didn’t appoint herself… and he has given her more responsibilities in the face of budget cuts… obviously because he felt she is doing a good job for him and the team… why should she be blamed or expected to explain herself for that…? she has only done what her boss has asked of her…
but you’d rather blame her for simply being there and responding to an insult than blame Beal for hurling the insult…?
we obviously see this from very different perspectives… which is what makes life so interesting…
i will go away and sincerely consider and try to see it from your point of view…
UFO nails it as usual.
Gilbert is more trouble than he’s worth.
@ ufo:
We do see it from different perspectives Ufo… and yes I still think she should’ve kept her beak out of it at… for the good of the team. If she had an issue with the sarcasm from Kurtley why couldn’t she address it in a privacy … then her integrity wouldn’t be in question and more so…she’d display a greater degree of professionalism…. I do think that certain players with a history of problems should be treated carefully…why go out of your way to argue with them…it’s only going to end in an incident…
My comment is all over the place..sorry..it’s the pain killers I think…stuffed a rib and my knee is sore… Can’t give the game up
Incidentally well done to SAA for misplacing the convicts luggage as well as Beale’s dummy.
About time those jokers got something right.
I’m glad my tax rond are being well spent.
😆
17 @ ufo:
Hey UFO I think your post emphasizes this whole issue, you met a whole bunch of questions with a bunch of questions, It is not to say Beale is completely innocent or innocent at all. It is merely to early to judge anyone when there is no direct evidence of what happened.
@ MacroBok:
Gilbert is a repeat offender with a reputation for being dumber than an ANC cabinet minister.
@ gunther:
He has a terrible reputation so I understand why it would be thought of that he is fully to blame.
Just not enough info for me, but if he is just being a dos, it is a whole new level of being an e-pos.
McKenzie is a fool, and by bringing back the least capable of the ‘Three Amigos’ – who is a confirmed drugs user and Alcohol addict – he got what he deserved; a piece of dreck on his hands
The woman’s care for the ‘Polynesian Players’ probably is rewarded too by possibly losing her job 😉
Just wait for Cooper, O’Connor and Genia joining the party,,, 😆
Here’s another argument for sacking McKenzie and bringing JW that may not happened
Speaking of fools.
😆
18 @ gunther:
shot gunther…
20 @ Te Rangatira:
hope the rib heals quickly… not much you can do except wait it out…
22 @ MacroBok:
im not sure that’s all i did… but not prob if you see it that way… 😉
thing is beale has a long record of inappropriate behaviour… so this would not be out of character for him…
patston has long record of keeping under the radar… who’d heard of her before this… so it would be out of character for her…
but i do agree that we have to wait and see how it all turns out…
i still think mckenzie is missing out on not making higgenbotham captain… (nothing against hooper though, who is a great player bud hardly likely to pull these guys into line…) higgenbotham is old school and criticised beale and bieber long before anyone else did when they were at the rebels… everyone was saying that they are just young guys sowing their wild oats etc… but it just got more and more out of hand until bieber had to go and find a job overseas…
it may have turned out differently if people had listened to higginbotham… he said they don’t respect the jersey, their teammates, rugby, people in general and even themselves…
plus scott is the steal missing from the wallabies spine… and is a really gifted player with a wide range of skills to boot…
gunther wrote:
You sadistic pervert.
@ BrumbiesBoy:
Viva SAA long liiiiiive!
That little fuckyou to the convicts is worth another 5 billion bailout at least.
😆
As a re-read this little gem of an article I discover that Link and this Sheila were sitting next to each other.
Maybe Gilbert suggested there might be some mile high action going down?
😆
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