Wallabies are not sexists, says scrum-half Nick Phipps
Wallaby scrum-half Nick Phipps says the Australia squad are not a bunch of sexists following the fallout caused by Kurtley Beale's offensive text message to a female team official.
Wallaby scrum-half Nick Phipps says the Australia squad are not a bunch of sexists following the fallout caused by Kurtley Beale's offensive text message to a female team official.
Last week a disciplinary tribunal found Beale guilty of sending an offensive picture message to Wallaby team business manager Di Patston, who eventually resigned, and fined him A$45,000 (HK$307,000).
However, Beale was not suspended, meaning he was eligible to play, although new Australia coach Michael Cheika did not include him in the squad for the five-match tour of Europe, which starts with the international against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Saturday.
If women are good enough to do the job I’d love them to be there. I find it funny that gender is always brought into it
The tribunal could not establish whether a second more offensive text message and photograph had been sent by Beale.
The furore over the texts also led to Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie's resignation.
Patston quit her post a fortnight ago and, speaking publicly for the first time since her departure, told Monday's edition of The Australian she had been driven to the brink of suicide by the "degrading" texts and the ensuing repercussions.
The whole issue has again raised the question of whether top-level men's sport is inherently misogynistic but Phipps, speaking in London, insisted this was far from the case.
"I have noticed a lot of people giving their views on harassment in the workplace," said Phipps.