Rugby Australia deny Wallabies match-fixing allegations

Rugby Australia refuted claims that the Wallabies were investigated for match fixing after losing a Test they were favoured to win “several years ago”.

A report from the Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday suggested that the Wallabies had been investigated for match fixing and that a sporting official had recommended that investigation be re-opened.

The report alleged that there was a “deep concern” about a Wallabies loss and that there had been suspicious activity in a Test that the Wallabies were widely expected to win.

The governing body released a statement on Friday, denying that any such investigation was ever conducted and said if anyone had evidence of any match-fixing they should make it known.

“A headline attached to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald today suggested Rugby Australia had investigated a Wallabies Test match ‘from several years ago’ in relation to the possibility of match fixing,” the statement read.

“Rugby Australia wishes to confirm it has seen no evidence in regards to inappropriate betting activity or match fixing and has no record of any such investigation occurring in the past.

“Rugby Australia takes any allegation of match fixing very seriously and would always thoroughly investigate should any person or entity ever provide information to the Integrity Unit.”

Wallabies and Waratahs captain Michael Hooper said he was surprised to read allegations of Wallabies match-fixing but was confident there was nothing untoward in his time with the team.

“I saw that last night, bit of a shock and then I’ve seen Rugby Australia’s comment this morning and that’s put it to bed really, so not really thinking about that,” he said at Friday’s Waratahs captain’s run.

“(I’m) not really (surprised or offended) no. It’s just come out. I’m not focusing on it too much. I hope there’s nothing to it.”

Hooper, who made his Wallabies debut in 2012, is one of the most fierce competitors in Australian and international rugby and said he was confident none of his team-mates had been involved in anything like the suggested allegations.

“You can’t give more than 100 per cent. That’s the way I’m built and the guys I’ve played with have all been cut from the same cloth and I speak on behalf of the guys I’ve played with for sure,” he said.

There is no suggestion that any of the current Wallabies were involved in any alleged match-fixing.