Statement from ARU Board Member General Peter Cosgrove

ARU Board Member and Former Chief of the Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, has expressed condolences to the family and friends of Signaller Sean McCarthy.

On behalf of the ARU Board, ARU Management, the Qantas Wallabies and the entire Rugby Community, ARU Board Member and Former Chief of the Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, has expressed “the game’s sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Signaller Sean McCarthy.”

Signaller McCarthy was killed in Afghanistan on July 9^th when the vehicle he was travelling in was hit by a roadside bomb.

“All Rugby lovers were saddened to learn of his death last week” said General Cosgrove.

“We are all well aware of the commitment required from our men and women serving overseas in the Australian Defence Forces, and of the dangers they face in some of their deployments” General Cosgrove continued.

“As members of the Rugby family, we also recognize we have lost one of our own.”

“Sean was an avid supporter of the game and it is poignant that the Wallabies will play the Springboks in a Tri Nations match on Saturday night in Perth.”

“It will be a special moment when this international match kicks off in the city where he was based before his deployment”, he concluded.