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Quade Cooper in action for Australia. David Davies/PA Archive/Press Association Images
Rugby

Australia to probe rugby stars' hotel incident

Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale were asked to leave a Brisbane hotel on Thursday.

THE AUSTRALIAN RUGBY Union are investigating an incident involving Wallabies stars Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale at a Brisbane hotel on Thursday.

It is understood the pair were caught up in a scuffle with security guards at the Victory Hotel after they were asked to leave the establishment.

It is alleged Beale struck a security guard in the head after the pair were denied re-entry to the venue and the incident is believed to have been captured on CCTV.

Police were called to the scene but no arrests were made at the time, although they are investigating the incident.

“We’ve been made aware of an incident overnight and are still making our own enquiries,” an ARU statement said.

“As a matter of process the issue will be referred to an ARU disciplinary review procedure. We have nothing further to add at this stage.”

The incident has come less than 48 hours before the Wallabies clash with Six Nations champions Wales at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

Beale and Cooper are not part of the Wallabies side for that clash and the incident comes at a time when both supposed to be in rehabilitation from injury.

Beale is recovering from shoulder surgery and was staying with the team in Brisbane in the hope of being fit in time for the second Test against Wales in Melbourne next week.

The fight is likely to jeopardise the Melbourne Rebels playmaker’s chances of making the squad for that game and possibly the rest of the series.

Cooper, who is one-and-a-half games back from a knee reconstruction, was released from the Wallabies’ camp last weekend to continue to get his knee right for the rest of the Super Rugby season and the Test matches later in the year.

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