Kurtley Beale in Trouble

[TRF Mr Fish]

Here is an article which includes the texts exchanged between Beale and Patson: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...3/Kurtley-Beales-texts-to-Di-Patston-revealed

They look like the kind of thing a couple of overdramatic tweens would say

To be honest I think any talk of an affair between Patson and McKenzie is completely unfounded speculation by the media who are just trying to stir the pot. It simply sounds like Beale sent out some inappropriate texts to team mates, and accidentally sent them to Patson too. She forgave him after he apologised and assured her it wouldn't happen again, end of story. The incident on the plane sounds like a completely unrelated event (though perhaps past events inflamed the situation).

Patson may well have upset a few people in the Wallabies camp due to how much influence she has, but to be honest I'd imagine no one would be complaining if she were a man. The lad culture of the Wallabies probably had to change with a women so high up in management, and if that were the case then I'm sure a number of players would be unhappy about it. That's the issue with these borderline chauvinistic sports team cultures, they're not really an appropriate place for a lady, and a massive culture shift would be very difficult to handle.

I'd imagine what will happen is Beale will get stood down for a couple of games, but other than that I can't see any future repercussions. I can't see Patson being reinstated, given how the conflict that exists.

 

[dasNdanger]

http://www.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/243977.html

Goooooooooone.

Yeah, this all sounds like what I've been thinking for a while now. Beale's text was inappropriate, tasteless, and immature (and stupid for accidentally including her in the recipients - men ), but not worthy (imho) for anything harsher than a reprimand - maybe a suspended game. Sounds to me like this has all been festering for a while, and finally the abscess popped. Perhaps Beale held the pin, but he wasn't the source of the infection.


das

 

[dasNdanger]

Here is an article which includes the texts exchanged between Beale and Patson: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...3/Kurtley-Beales-texts-to-Di-Patston-revealed

They look like the kind of thing a couple of overdramatic tweens would say

To be honest I think any talk of an affair between Patson and McKenzie is completely unfounded speculation by the media who are just trying to stir the pot. It simply sounds like Beale sent out some inappropriate texts to team mates, and accidentally sent them to Patson too. She forgave him after he apologised and assured her it wouldn't happen again, end of story. The incident on the plane sounds like a completely unrelated event (though perhaps past events inflamed the situation).

Patson may well have upset a few people in the Wallabies camp due to how much influence she has, but to be honest I'd imagine no one would be complaining if she were a man. The lad culture of the Wallabies probably had to change with a women so high up in management, and if that were the case then I'm sure a number of players would be unhappy about it. That's the issue with these borderline chauvinistic sports team cultures, they're not really an appropriate place for a lady, and a massive culture shift would be very difficult to handle.

I'd imagine what will happen is Beale will get stood down for a couple of games, but other than that I can't see any future repercussions. I can't see Patson being reinstated, given how the conflict that exists.

Not sure if you read it, but I found this article rather insightful:

http://www.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/243977.html

Goooooooooone.

das

 

[Draggs]

Those texts are trash. Even if Patston was a supposedly divisive figure, that's unacceptable.
Something seriously rotten in the national side there, remember this? http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/with-amigos-like-these--20130816-2s24k.html

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Those texts are trash. Even if Patston was a supposedly divisive figure, that's unacceptable.
Something seriously rotten in the national side there, remember this? http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/with-amigos-like-these--20130816-2s24k.html

It certainly sounds like there's a lot of borderline corruption and awful management in the ARU. It's a shambles, but they also won't want to lose a player like Beale so you can imagine that they will talk the talk in public, but will probably basically say boys will be boys in private and hit Beale with a minor ban.

 

[Draggs]

It certainly sounds like there's a lot of borderline corruption and awful management in the ARU. It's a shambles, but they also won't want to lose a player like Beale so you can imagine that they will talk the talk in public, but will probably basically say boys will be boys in private and hit Beale with a minor ban.

I disagree, Beale has to go. After all the chances he has had, to give him another wouldn't do anything to cut down this behaviour. Drop him and move on, let him bog off to league or whatever. Focus on the players they have, and move on. If this was two years ago it would be easier; tough decisions for the ARU.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I disagree, Beale has to go. After all the chances he has had, to give him another wouldn't do anything to cut down this behaviour. Drop him and move on, let him bog off to league or whatever. Focus on the players they have, and move on. If this was two years ago it would be easier; tough decisions for the ARU.

I agree, that's what they should do.

Will they though? I have my doubts.

 

[Peat]

Those texts are trash. Even if Patston was a supposedly divisive figure, that's unacceptable.
Something seriously rotten in the national side there, remember this? http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/with-amigos-like-these--20130816-2s24k.html

Are you trying to pin it all on Beale or am I read too much into your posts?

 

[Draggs]

I am not. We don't know the Pulver-McKenzie-Patston-Beale thing. Pulver said they just found out about the texts, others say McKenzie knew in June.
The McKenzie-Patston deal, is it a red herring, what was her role? Some say the players didn't like her, and she had too much power; is this true, or is it just a few don't like her?
The plane situation, blown out of proportion? Probably wouldn't be a big deal if it wasn't for everything that could have led up to this.

@Fish, ah gotcha. It's all out in public, so if they did intend on keeping Beale around, how would that work? Surely the public are going to be calling for some action?

 

[Peat]

Cool, wasn't sure.

It's all beginning to remind me of the Pietersen saga. The only loser is everyone.

Slight side note - will be interesting to see how James O'Connor acts when he gets back to Oz. I don't think I've heard a peep of anything about up when he's been up north.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I am not. We don't know the Pulver-McKenzie-Patston-Beale thing. Pulver said they just found out about the texts, others say McKenzie knew in June.
The McKenzie-Patston deal, is it a red herring, what was her role? Some say the players didn't like her, and she had too much power; is this true, or is it just a few don't like her?
The plane situation, blown out of proportion? Probably wouldn't be a big deal if it wasn't for everything that could have led up to this.

@Fish, ah gotcha. It's all out in public, so if they did intend on keeping Beale around, how would that work? Surely the public are going to be calling for some action?

Honestly, I'm not so sure they will be. A lot of the blame seems to have been shifted onto McKenzie by the media - most of the news we're seeing talks more about whether or not McKenzie knew about the texts at the time, as opposed to why Beale thought it would be funny to send them in the first place.

If this were New Zealand or England etc. then I'd imagine it would be a pretty clean cut case - Beale would be gone. But Australia are a bit different, the fan base obviously isn't as large but just as importantly the number of draw card players is not particularly plentiful. Foley, AAC and the like are all good players and are very useful to have, but it's the guys like Cooper and Beale that make the rugby good to watch - which is probably more important in Oz at the moment, given their 'safe' players are not going to be quite enough to win them matches anyway, and crowds are dwindling.

 

[ratsapprentice]

It all rests on whether there is actually an affair - if there is then you can understand Beale's frustration, even if it is a bit puerile.

 

[Helmy]

Patson may well have upset a few people in the Wallabies camp due to how much influence she has, but to be honest I'd imagine no one would be complaining if she were a man. The lad culture of the Wallabies probably had to change with a women so high up in management, and if that were the case then I'm sure a number of players would be unhappy about it. That's the issue with these borderline chauvinistic sports team cultures, they're not really an appropriate place for a lady, and a massive culture shift would be very difficult to handle.

Exactly. If it were McKenzie's, best male friend, say, would there be any issue whatsoever? Again, I say that society needs to shift the way they view these issues and see if they can look at them from an alternate light, away from the 'dominant' view of middle aged white males that Rupert Murdoch's minions have crafted over the years. No, I'm not making up some crazy conspiracies. It's widely accepted in media circles that western media is seen through the scope of the white male, I've got a three year degree to prove it, I swear.

I'm pretty sure we're only questioning her credentials because she was born with a vagina and not a penis. From reading the txt exchange, it seems to me that she'd done nothing at all to suggest that she has too much influence, if any influence at all. Perhaps some might like to look at Emma Watson's recent speech and her bafflement at being referred to as 'bossy'. Certainly, Patson made a fair point of her credentials when stating: 'I have earned this job and I am proud of being a female at this level. If I complain then I make it hard for women in Rugby and it puts the reputation of the entire squad at stake.

Pay close attention to the 'if I complain' part. Caught between a rock and a hard place, I suppose.

 

[Peat]

Honestly, I'm not so sure they will be. A lot of the blame seems to have been shifted onto McKenzie by the media - most of the news we're seeing talks more about whether or not McKenzie knew about the texts at the time, as opposed to why Beale thought it would be funny to send them in the first place.

If this were New Zealand or England etc. then I'd imagine it would be a pretty clean cut case - Beale would be gone. But Australia are a bit different, the fan base obviously isn't as large but just as importantly the number of draw card players is not particularly plentiful. Foley, AAC and the like are all good players and are very useful to have, but it's the guys like Cooper and Beale that make the rugby good to watch - which is probably more important in Oz at the moment, given their 'safe' players are not going to be quite enough to win them matches anyway, and crowds are dwindling.

Johnson's World Cup managed to fit several years of Wallaby embarrassment into one short window and all of the non-pensionable players played again - Johnson went. Even under strict disciplinarian Lancaster, the only internal suspension has been of Danny Care for getting into trouble with drink related incidents twice in quick succession. Dylan Hartley swore at a ref and was straight back in the squad after his RFU suspension was done - despite a long history of indiscipline on and off the field.

Valuable players will always be given the least possible punishment needed to make the point. That's the same everywhere.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Johnson's World Cup managed to fit several years of Wallaby embarrassment into one short window and all of the non-pensionable players played again - Johnson went. Even under strict disciplinarian Lancaster, the only internal suspension has been of Danny Care for getting into trouble with drink related incidents twice in quick succession. Dylan Hartley swore at a ref and was straight back in the squad after his RFU suspension was done - despite a long history of indiscipline on and off the field.

Valuable players will always be given the least possible punishment needed to make the point. That's the same everywhere.

I think it's a bit different when a player is harassing a member of the management team, because that is fundamentally crippling to the establishment and evidently very inflammatory. This is effectively a case of in team bullying. Swearing at a ref, whilst abhorrent, isn't likely to have a major effect on team culture in the long run. Likewise going on a bit of a bender is selfish, but in terms of ongoing effects, I think they are minimal. This is a bit different.

Care and Hartley, however, did receive punishments, which is important to note. I don't see much point in punishing a player beyond what the national union has already instigated, unless the team feels that the punishment is completely minimal (though I'd imagine Johnson would have at least been spoken to regarding Hartley's suspension).

All that being said, perhaps England wasn't the best example of a country with great policy when it comes to disciplining members.

 

[austingtir]

Has anybody seen the txts. They have been posted up by the ARU.

Id love to have a laugh at Beale's expense but to me this is just not really that big a deal after reading what was said and pixted. Seem a bit like Di was on the rag or something to me.... ; )

In saying all that Beale is certainly out of line sending anything of the sort to her being in the management of the team. It just doesnt seem like that big a deal... when it all blew up I thought we were going to get something really juicy... but this... MEH...

 

[dasNdanger]

Has anybody seen the txts. They have been posted up by the ARU.

Id love to have a laugh at Beale's expense but to me this is just not really that big a deal after reading what was said and pixted. Seem a bit like Di was on the rag or something to me.... ; )

In saying all that Beale is certainly out of line sending anything of the sort to her being in the management of the team. It just doesnt seem like that big a deal... when it all blew up I thought we were going to get something really juicy... but this... MEH...

If those are the only texts then it does seem as if Di was a bit...I dunno...over-reacting? Especially considering they were not actual pictures of her. Beale seems quite calm and apologizes, though the sincerity of that apology could be questioned, I suppose.

What I'd like to know is who actually started the brouhaha on the plane - Beale, or Di?

And I am still curious about the claims made by the article rats posted, which says, in part:

Over the past 12 months, Patston, the Wallabies team business manager, alienated numerous Australian players. They were astounded that in a short period of time and with little rugby background Patston had become such an influential but divisive powerbroker.

In recent months, ESPNscrum was told that several Wallabies players had complained about the 'poisonous' atmosphere during team training camps, to the extent that 'several big names' had lost the urge of wanting to be part of the Australian Test scene.


ESPNscrum has in the past week been informed by Wallabies team sources of concerns within the playing group that some of their private emails may have been improperly accessed. They had also been confronted by the threat of being dropped from the Test lineup if they did not openly swear their allegiance to the team management.


Team sources confirmed that Wallaby team harmony began to collapse even before the Dublin drinking affair on the team end-of-season tour of Europe late last year. Earlier in that tour, players were told by team officials that they had to be either 'with us or against us, and if you're against us, you won't be picked.'


The players were then troubled by Patston's increasing influence in the Wallabies preparation for Test matches, and her involvement in team discipline. Several said they were 'scared' of Patston, while even ARU staff members at the St Leonards headquarters have been concerned for some time about 'potential witch-hunts.'


Some players remain wary of McKenzie, and it will take an enormous amount of work by the Test coach to get everyone in the squad back on side before they confront the All Blacks in Brisbane on Saturday night.


As one official with very strong links to the players said over the weekend: ''McKenzie lost the players a long time ago."


...


The relationship between Wallabies and numerous major ARU officials is also uneasy. Test players do not like officials who ingratiate themselves with the team. Several members of the ARU board have been accused by the players of being 'blatant jersey tuggers.' There have even been calls to one ARU board member for one of his colleagues, nicknamed by the players as 'The Fan' not to be allowed in the Wallabies dressing room. Another notable ARU board member has been described by Wallabies as 'MIA' for 'missing in action.'


It is known that numerous Test players are as guarded about Pulver, as they have been of team management members. The public sighting of Pulver in the Wallabies gear has not helped his relationship with some team members, who believe the green and gold colours have to be properly earnt.


The ARU's cost-cutting measures, due to the national body's serious financial woes, has also affected the playing group, with the Wallabies not having a proper team manager in recent times causing enormous problems, including luggage disappearing during their last trip from South Africa to Argentina.


Players have even questioned the value of spending the Test half-time break sitting in the middle of the field, rather than heading to the dressing rooms, like every other major team. They argue that it limits what a team can do during the break, and that oppositions can easily see whether any players has ****ling injuries, by just observing who is being treated by the medical staff on the field.



Read more at http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/243977.html#oj8qehpBDQm7cVRq.99

I stand by my opinion that Beale is being used as a distraction from a MUCH bigger problem. If enough players side with him AND speak up, then perhaps it will steer attention away from that little spat on the plane and focus on whatever is truly wrong with the inner workings of the ARU so they can finally get straightened out. Honestly, if that article is correct, the ARU sounds like one huge clusterfluck.


das

 

[Guilty]

According to insiders it is looking extremely likely the affair allegations are true or at least that is the general consensus. I am sure some other posters on this site have seen the leaked emails from the Australian Rugby Union so I'll leave it at that.

The players have lost faith in McKenzie and the squad is disintegrating. An ugly loss to New Zealand seems like it will be the final straw and force the ARU to terminate McKenzie's contract. A very interesting scenario to watch unfold. Robbie Deans must be having a good laugh now.

 

[Helmy]

Has anybody seen the txts. They have been posted up by the ARU.

Id love to have a laugh at Beale's expense but to me this is just not really that big a deal after reading what was said and pixted. Seem a bit like Di was on the rag or something to me.... ; )

In saying all that Beale is certainly out of line sending anything of the sort to her being in the management of the team. It just doesnt seem like that big a deal... when it all blew up I thought we were going to get something really juicy... but this... MEH...

Seriously? :huh:

 

[TRF_heineken]

Well, here's my take on the new developments so far based on the texts between Beale and Patston:

Beale sent photographs of nude, overweight women accompanied by the words "Would you hit it?" and "Di", and "Di who wants a go f---ing this?"

Patston then replied: I am sitting here in the team room doing my job and I can't stop crying. What did I do to you? You have barely known me a day. I can't stop crying I am so humiliated by this. Don't you think my job is hard enough without this? This is how the only female staff member is treated? I am so embarrassed by this I am leaving for my room I can't stop crying thanks a lot.

I don't know about you guys, but the way I was raised, there are 2 things you never joke about with a female, and that is her weight and who she has sex with (resulting in calling a prude or a slut usually). Here she asks a valid question, she's the only female staff member in the group, and is this the way they are being treated? Her responses of being emotional is very valid.

Beale wrote: I was layin on my bed I didn't send it to anyone I sent it to myself. Youve done nothing wrong youve been so good to me & your such a lovely lady. We all see how hard you work for us. I just do stupid things for no reason. I was laying here getting ready for lunch & training mucking around. I hate I have done this to you & I am so sorry di.

The bold part sums it up pretty much. oh, and the guy needs to learn how to spell...

Patston: Leave me alone please. I've come to my room. The team room is full of players I know you've sent it on to them but I'll never know to who. Just leave me alone this is not ok. Do you realise the situation you've put me in? I have earned this job and I am proud of being a female at this level. If I complain then I make it hard for women in Rugby and it puts the reputation of the entire squad at stake. Do you realise the situation I am? Just leave me alone please. I don't want to hear from you until my distress has settled.

it makes me wonder if other players laughed at her or made some kind of remarks. Also, if Beale only sent it to himself, then how did Patston find out about it and become so emotional??

Beale: Ok I feel so bad.

Patston: You may feel bad but if you did not accidentally send them to me how many more would there be? Are you sorry you did it or just sorry you got caught? Think about that.

Beale: I just don't know what to do. I'm so sorry.

Ah, so Beale is lying, he didn't send it to himself only.

Patston: Glad we got the chance to catch up and talk it through. I wanted you to look me in the eyes and realise I am a person - a mum, wife and daughter (all those things we discussed) and how they would feel seeing what you sent me. I'll never know who you sent them to or why; but everyone deserves a chance. You were clearly upset and showed remorse which I am for. I hope you can move on from this with a greater respect for treating people the right way. As I said, I won't be telling Ewen, or the ARU as you are entitled to one mistake and be a better person for it. I hope this is your moment and you gain a greater respect for the people here doing a job for you and the rest of the team. Let's move on from this and start anew. No need to talk about it any further. Di.

Beale: I can't believe your not going to tell Ewen or the ARU this means so much to me & I have learned my lesson I promise you. You have been very kind to me di and I'll never do anything like this again. Seeing you so upset hurt me I couldn't deal with it. You have my respect & deserve better you do so much for us & work so hard. Wish I could take it back. Thankyou di.

Here's the crux!!

At this point, the Management and the ARU didn't even know about the situation, which was in June. My guess was that Patston was hoping the break would let the situation die down with the players all returning to their franchises for the end of the Super Rugby tournament.

Then when they regathered for the RC, the latent conflict reached it's pressure point between these 2 and in an plane of all places.

Seems to me that Beale is a real cun....