Kurtley Beale has been suspended from all forms of rugby with immediate effect after being charged on Friday, following an investigation into an alleged sexual assault in Sydney’s east last December.
The 33-year-old was arrested as he left training with the NSW Waratahs, with police stopping his car on Rainbow Street, Kingsford, around 2.30pm.
Rugby Australia confirmed Beale’s suspension in a joint statement alongside the NSW Waratahs on Friday night.
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“Rugby Australia and the NSW Waratahs advise that Kurtley Beale has been suspended from all forms of Rugby with immediate effect pending the conclusion of legal proceedings, as well as Rugby Australia’s own investigations,” the statement read.
“This step follows Mr Beale’s arrest and subsequent charge with serious criminal offences, and is in line with Rugby Australia’s Professional Player Code of Conduct. The Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) has been informed of this development.
“As this remains a legal matter, there will be no further comment until the conclusion of these proceedings.”
After being stopped on Friday afternoon, Beale was taken to Waverley Police Station where he was charged with two counts of sexually touch another person without consent, incite another to sexually touch them without consent and sexual intercourse without consent. He was refused bail and will appear before Parramatta Bail Court tomorrow.
Beale is one of Australian rugby’s highest-profile players of the past decade. He made his international debut for the Wallabies in 2009, and has since earned more than 90 Test caps.
He was part of the Waratahs’ Super Rugby-winning squad in 2014 and represented the Wallabies at three Rugby World Cups – 2011, 2015 and 2019.
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