‘Shocked’ by Wallabies fixing claims
SYDNEY: Wallabies captain Michael Hooper was ‘‘shocked’’ to learn of claims the Australian rugby union team had been investigated for matchfixing after losing a test they had been favoured to win.
A report in The Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday night suggested the Wallabies were investigated for matchfixing several years ago and that a sporting official had recommended the investigation be reopened.
While the report did not specify the particular match, nor suggest the Wallabies fixed any game on Hooper’s watch, the incumbent skipper said he personally — plus his teammates — had never given anything less than their best efforts while wearing the gold jumper.
‘‘You can’t give more than a 100 [percent],’’ Hooper said yesterday.
‘‘That’s the way I’m built and the guys I’ve played with have all been cut from the same cloth and I can speak on behalf of the guys I’ve played with for sure.’’
The report alleged there was a ‘‘deep concern’’ about a
Wallabies loss and there had been suspicious activity in a test the Wallabies were widely expected to win.
Rugby Australia released a statement yesterday denying any such investigation had been conducted.
‘‘A headline attached to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald today suggested Rugby Australia had investigated a Wallabies test ‘‘from several years ago’’ in relation to the possibility of matchfixing,’’ the statement said.
‘‘Rugby Australia wishes to confirm it has seen no evidence in regards to inappropriate betting activity or matchfixing and has no record of any such investigation occurring in the past.
‘‘Rugby Australia takes any allegation of matchfixing very seriously and would always thoroughly investigate should any person or entity ever provide information to the Integrity
Unit.’’
A ferocious competitor and dual John Eales Medallist as Australia’s player of the year, Hooper was horrified by the allegations.
‘‘I saw that last night and was shocked,’’ the champion flanker said before his Waratahs’ captain’s run at the SCG.
‘‘And then I’ve seen Rugby Australia’s comment this morning and that puts it to bed really.
‘‘So [I’m] not really [surprised or offended], no . . . I hope there’s nothing to it.’’ — AAP