Tuesday’s rugby news has the final Wallabies squad unveiled, concerns for Kurtley, QC shenanigans and some love for the refs.
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Final Wallabies announced
In a long-awaited announcement, the final position in Robbie Deans’ 31 man squad will be given to (drumroll please)…Hugh McMeniman. The Western Force flanker proved his fitness during last weekend’s Australian only Super Rugby round, making a successful return from a shoulder injury. As expected, McCabe, Kimlin, Sio, Ioane and Beale were also added to the squad, while Melbourne scrum-half Luke Burgess and Queensland hooker James Hanson will remain as injury cover at their Sunshine Coast training base.
Deans also confirmed that Queensland Reds lock James Horwill will captain the three-Test series. Horwill, who steered the Wallabies to the 2011 Tri-Nations crown, reclaims the captaincy for the first time in almost two years having recovered from the hamstring injury that sidelined him last season.
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ARU ‘don’t care’ about Kurtley
Kurtley Beale’s call-up has sparked controversy over the ARU’s perceived decision to place rugby success ahead of player wellbeing. In announcing the squad, Deans emphasized that he had no concerns about Beale’s physical state or mental well-being ahead of the high-pressure series, despite his recent off-field problems and limited preperations for the Test series.
However, Brendan Cannon believes that the ARU are ‘selfish’ for risking the long-term health and welfare of Kurtley Beale by including him in the Wallabies squad. ‘I think he needs to miss this series to get right long term,’ Cannon said. Greg Martin echoed these statements, asserting that the ARU ‘don’t care’ about Beale’s long-term welfare. ‘They’ve got to win here and now, and Robbie Deans is out to save his job,’ said Martin.
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Quade Cooper attacked
Quade Cooper was reportedly drenched in beer by a patron at Brisbane’s Normanby Hotel on Sunday afternoon, just hours after being told he was excluded from the Wallabies squad. According to witnesses, the patron goaded Cooper by abusing him and threw a plastic cup of beer over him. An argument ensued before security staff intervened and ejected the patron. Cooper has a suspended 3 match ban and $20,000 fine hanging over him after last October’s “toxic environment” comments and did not retaliate. Robbie Deans has no alibi for the night in question
In other Quade-related news, former World Cup winning coach Clive Woodward has lambasted the decision to leave out the Wallabies ‘x-factor.’ ‘The Lions did not want to face him (Cooper) and they have got their wish,’ said Woodward.
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NSW rugby’s ‘first lady’ of refereeing awarded OAM
And finally, 45 years of service to NSW rugby has seen Mrs Robin Timmons awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. She has already been honoured as Australia’s first female referee and the first female in the NSW Rugby Union’s 139-year history to receive an Honorary Life Membership. ‘When the confirmation came through last week, I couldn’t really believe it,’ said Mrs Timmins.
Mrs Timmins first started in 1968 with the Sydney Rugby Union, going on to join Eastwood District Referees Association two years later. In her current role as Referees Assistant, Mrs Timmins co-ordinates the appointments of officials for every Premiership, Colts, Suburban, Women’s and First XV Schools game across Sydney, every weekend, from March to October. So now you know exactly who to blame for every penalty your team doesn’t get.
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