Beale apologises to Rugby AU over social media video

Tue, Jan 15, 2019, 6:50 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Kurtley Beale has apologised for his presence in a viral social media video. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley
Kurtley Beale has apologised for his presence in a viral social media video. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley

Wallabies star Kurtley Beale has apologised to Rugby Australia for his involvement in a video that was spread on social media on Monday night.

The video, recorded in 2016, featured NRL player Corey Norman filming an older man snorting a white substance before Beale was recorded on camera laughing at the incident.

Former Parramatta Eel Norman was stood down for eight weeks and fined $20,000 at the time which the NRL integrity at the time said was partly related to the filming and distributing videos of incidents involving apparent drug use and sexual activity.

His current club, the Dragons, released a statement on Monday night saying the video had been "dealt with accordingly" at the time.

In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, Rugby AU CEO Raelene Castle said Beale had contacted her to apologise over the incident once the vision became public and acknowledged "it did not reflect the image expected" of him as a Test player.

Kurtley Beale. Photo: Getty ImagesThe statement did not mention any punishment for Beale.

“Rugby Australia only became aware of the vision after it had surfaced on social media on Monday afternoon and understands that it was recorded in 2016,” she said.

“After becoming aware that the vision was being shared on social media, Kurtley contacted me last night to apologise for the negative attention the video had attracted and expressed regret at putting himself in a compromising position at that time.

“Kurtley has today met with Rugby Australia’s Integrity Unit to provide his version of events and the high standards that are expected of him as a professional Rugby player have been firmly reiterated.

“Kurtley acknowledges that his presence in the video and the humour he expressed at the incident at the time does not reflect the image that is expected of a professional rugby player.”

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