Kurtley Beale fined but cleared to play for Wallabies

Utility back Kurtley Beale has been fined A$45,000 (HK$307,750) for sending an offensive text, but has escaped a ban after being cleared of sending a second "more offensive" photograph, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) said on Friday.

However, Beale will miss Australia's spring tour of Europe despite being cleared for selection by a code of conduct tribunal, the ARU said.

The 25-year-old, who has played 47 times for his country, was accused of sending "deeply offensive" text messages about team business manager Di Patston in June. Details of the texts emerged following a heated row on a flight for a test in Argentina in October and Beale was suspended pending tribunal.

Patston, who initially did not report the text, resigned because of stress and the affair also led to the resignation of coach Ewen McKenzie, who had brought her into the Wallabies set up from the Queensland Reds.

There had been speculation that Beale could have his contract terminated but he is now free to play with immediate effect, though the ARU said Saturday that new Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika had “advised that Kurtley Beale will not join the squad for the spring tour”.