Intro:

Kurtley Beale has been fined 45,000 Australian dollars ($40,000 US dollars) for sending an offensive photograph to a female Australian Rugby Union employee, but has avoided tougher sanctions that could have included termination of his contract.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: Bill Pulver, Australian Rugby Union Chief Executive Officer

"These mitigating factors (in the case) included Beale's contrition, the unpleasant consequences the matter had created for the ARU (Australian Rugby Union) employee and Beale and the fact that Beale had effectively already been suspended from recent matches. The tribunal also found that evidence did not establish that a second more offensive text and photograph had been sent by Beale. We said that throughout this process that we would accept the tribunals findings. This decision means that Kurtley Beale will be eligible for selection for the Qantas Wallabies effective immediately."

SOUNDBITE: Bill Pulver, Australian Rugby Union Chief Executive Officer

"No he's eligible to join the Spring Tour so basically eligible to play for the Wallabies immediately and clearly I'll be calling the Wallaby coach a little later to inform him of the outcome."