Rugby Australia have addressed a sensational match-fixing report with a blunt statement

Rugby Australia has effectively rubbished a report suggesting that an investigation has taken place into match-fixing around past Wallabies.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that some high-ranking sporting officials contacted RA with concerns about at least three Wallaby players who all “still have considerable links to Australian Rugby — either in an on- or off-field capacity,”

According to the newspaper, the alleged match-fixing concerns surround a match that the Wallabies were favoured to win, but their opponents were at attractive odds with betting agencies.

The Wallabies’ questionable poor performance, including dubious forward passes, easy tackles being missed, confounding knock-ons and easy midfield kicks going nowhere near their target ensured their loss the match.

The statement reads:

“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.

“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.”

The Herald reported that the players were sighted – individually or as a group – with either the racing identity or the SP bookie on numerous occasions both in Australia and overseas. One experienced player, who had financial issues, appeared to be “the ring-leader”.