Tahs accused of 'homophobic slurs'
The Waratahs stand accused of hurling homophobic slurs at the Brumbies in their Super Rugby match in Sydney on Sunday.
The Waratahs scored the only points of the second half to defeat Australian conference leaders, the Brumbies, 28-13 in a match in which Wallaby flank David Pocock said his team was subjected to homophobic slurs.
A vocal advocate of same-sex marriages, Pocock approached referee Craig Joubert twice in the final 15 minutes - upset at what the referee deemed to be "pretty aggressive comments" from the Waratahs.
Joubert asked New South Wales vice-captain Michael Hooper, who had just replaced skipper Dave Dennis, to speak to the Waratahs players on the field.
But Pocock was not satisfied and Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham later said the Brumbies would investigate the matter.
"Obviously it's going to come out in the next couple of days," Larkham told a post-match media briefing.
"We haven't had a chance to chat to everyone about everything that happened out there but we will investigate it further."
Larkham said he suspected the allegation was made against one player.
"It was reported as that. We'll have to talk to individuals and see what the process is."
Waratahs coach Michael Cheika, who also is head coach of the Wallabies, said he was reluctant to comment.
"The way I see it is like this: if there's an issue, it will come to light," Cheika said.
"Before making any sweeping statements I'd rather work out what happened, if anything did happen, and go from there.
"When it comes to light, I will make my position clear. I know it is a big thing, speculation. I know it fills a newspaper. But I am about seeing what really happened and making a comment."
The referee, Joubert, said on the field he hadn't heard the alleged remarks, but relayed them to Hooper who said: "We're not into that."
Pocock later said to Joubert: "You heard that sir. You can't say that, there could be gay players out there."
The incident is likely to be forwarded to SANZAR for further investigation under their code of conduct.
"It is not a witch hunt," Pocock said.
"It is not a matter of going after one particular guy, it is just saying: 'This isn't something we want to see in our game". '
"We want to be inclusive for people watching and people playing. That's what it comes down to."
"I didn't hear anything. I just had a few players coming to me saying there were homophobic slurs being thrown out, and I guess it is something at the Brumbies we have said it is not acceptable and we are not going to tolerate this.
"We were just making the referee aware. I put it with racism and all sorts of other things that aren't good enough."
With Pocock as a key ambassador, the ARU last year created an Inclusion Policy specifically targeting homophobia in rugby.
"It is something that is going to change with education and the ARU has come out really strongly not tolerating homophobia, and having an inclusion policy, right from [CEO] Bill Pulver," Pocock said.
Asked if he understood the comment to be directed at an individual, Pocock said: "I am not sure, and I guess that is beside the point in many ways. It is just disappointing hearing that language. It is just about education and making sure as players we are all the same page."
The Australian Rugby Union said it would seek to gather more information.
Sources: FoxSports & Sydney Morning Herald