Who would have thought the rugby thread would be in the running for best thread on the site.

Beale charges a lesson: Connolly


Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Wallabies coach John Connolly said an alleged drink driving charge against Waratahs wonderkid Kurtley Beale would not damage his selection prospects for the national team.

Beale, who turned 18 three weeks ago, pleaded guilty to drink driving while unlicensed last month according to a report on the Seven Network today.

He had reportedly been charged by Mt Druitt police after blowing twice the legal limit, later pleading guilty and being fined $1500.

Connolly, who earmarked the electric but green five-eighth as a potential squad member for this year's World Cup at the Australian season rugby launch last week, backed Beale to bounce back.

"I think he's just a young guy and he's made a mistake,'' Connolly told AAP tonight.

"I'm sure he will be a lot smarter for it, it will have no impact whatsoever (on his Wallaby selection prospects).

"It probably brings home to him very much the attention that is paid to the young sports stars these days and I'm sure he regrets every minute of it.

"But I'm sure he'll be a lot smarter in the future. It's a good lesson for the young man. Hopefully it's a bit of a reality dose for him.''

Beale, who has impressed in pre-season trials for the Waratahs, is expected to make his Super 14 debut for NSW against South African team the Lions in Johannesburg this Saturday (AEDT).

The NSW Rugby Union told Seven it could not confirm the story and a spokesperson later declined to offer comment to AAP, saying the player was a juvenile when he was charged.

The Waratahs were also unable to confirm whether or not Beale had been disciplined internally.

They did however say Beale, who was named on the bench for the Lions clash, would travel to South Africa with the team.

Is this your chance to participate in the World Cup Jeffles?

Would you get a game

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

The Australian Rugby Union is offering discounted tickets to fans living outside Sydney in a bid to attract a decent crowd for the Wallabies' Test against Wales this month.

With the Welsh to field an understrength team for the May 26 encounter, there are concerns Telstra Stadium will be half empty for the Wallabies' first Test of the year.

The ARU's commercial operations general manager Brian Thorburn admitted the Wales Test was not as appealing to fans as a Bledisloe Cup or Tri Nations clash with New Zealand or South Africa and that therefore concessions needed to be made.

Fans living outside of Sydney will receive a 25 per cent discount on tickets.

Tickets range from $55 to $115 for adults or $28 to $39 for children under 17.

"With popular opinion suggesting we need to attract more people back to rugby, the ARU has listened and decided this offer may just do that," Thorburn said.

"The ARU is very conscious of the high value of the Wallaby brand in the sporting market, but at the same time we are keen when we get an opportunity to open up the Wallaby Test experience to a wider audience.

"We believe this once-off discount offer may spur on rural NSW to get onside with the Qantas Wallabies as they tune up for the Rugby World Cup in France in September."

Telstra Stadium has a capacity of 83,500 and so far about 40,000 tickets have been sold for the Wallabies versus Wales Test.

AAP