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Stuart quits as Australia coach after abuse claim

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-08 14:18

SYDNEY, Australia - Ricky Stuart will not seek another term as Australia coach after being fined for verbally abusing a rugby league World Cup referee in a hotel the morning after the Kangaroos' shocking loss to New Zealand in the final.

Stuart, a former dual rugby league and rugby union international player for Australia, was fined 20,000 Australian dollars ($13,000) by the Rugby League International Federation on Monday, then announced his decision not to seek reappointment.

"Ricky Stuart today informed the Australian Rugby League that he would not make himself available to coach the Kangaroos in 2009," ARL chairman Colin Love said.

Stuart issued a statement, then declined further comment.

"This hat was the only decision. The penalty that has been handed down has been accepted by me as fair and reasonable."

Stuart had earlier apologized to English referee Ashley Klein and an England official for his "inappropriate and offensive" behavior.

Robert Weber, a lawyer appointed by the RLIF to investigate the incident, submitted a report saying that while Stuart's remarks to the officials were not loud, they were "littered with profanities".

Stuart said that the emotion that set in following Australia's 34-20 upset loss on November 22 had not subsided by the next morning when he saw Klein in the hotel lobby. Klein made some rulings that upset the Australian players, but the World Cup referees chief reviewed video of the game and backed the English official's interpretations.

High-ranking Australian Rugby League officials originally said Stuart had their support and would get another tenure as national coach if he wanted it, but speculation in the domestic media that Stuart would be forced to resign or be fired intensified this month. His contracted ended after the World Cup.

Love said Stuart did the right thing under the circumstances.

"In a clear error of judgment Ricky acted inappropriately and he has conceded that from the outset," he said, adding that Stuart had paid a big price for his actions. "People need to accept that he is paying it and allow him to move on with a clean slate."

Australia was a hot favorite ahead of the final after scoring 180 points and conceded only 16 in the four matches leading up to the final, including a 30-6 win over New Zealand. The Kangaroos had won the previous six World Cups.