Castle apologised to World Rugby over Wallabies' behaviour at World Cup

Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle wrote an apology to World Rugby after the game’s governing body expressed concerns about the behaviour of some members of the Wallabies set-up, including head coach Michael Cheika, at the recent World Cup in Japan.

Castle penned the apology to World Rugby after being made aware of a number of issues within the team by the local Japanese organising committee as well as high-ranking rugby officials.

Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle apologised for the behaviour of the Wallabies at the World Cup. Credit: Jessica Hromas

The Herald has been told by well-placed sources, some of whom have seen the letter, that Castle reached out to say sorry on behalf of RA for a build-up of incidents and public comments that had irked organisers and World Rugby.

Castle would not comment when RA was contacted by the Herald on Tuesday.

The sources told the Herald the apology was related to comments made by Cheika about World Rugby and referees during the early stages of the tournament as well as issues with Australian management during the team’s five-week stint in Japan.

The relationship between Michael Cheika and Raelene Castle was non-existent by the time the coach fell on his sword.Credit: AP

Members of the Japanese organising committee who were upset about the Australians' behaviour conveyed their concerns about the attitude of some within the Wallabies group to World Rugby.

A survey of members of the organising committee during the World Cup resulted in the Wallabies being marked down as one of the most difficult teams to work with at the tournament.

Castle, wanting to get on the front foot, did her best to clear the air and make peace following a forgettable World Cup on and off the field.

Outgoing Wallabies coach Michael Cheika arrives at Sydney Airport following Australia's quarter-final loss to England. Credit: AAP

Early in the campaign, Cheika expressed his bewilderment at the decision to hand Wallabies winger Reece Hodge a three-week suspension for a dangerous tackle on Fiji's Peceli Yato.

“If there is one bloke World Rugby is not listening to it's me,” Cheika said. “No matter what language I spoke to them in.

“There is a bit of us versus everyone else. You know and we know that. So we are not going to let it derail us.”

Then when Samu Kerevi was penalised against Wales for carrying the ball up and striking Rhys Patchell high, Cheika lashed out.

“When our guy makes that tackle and has the high tackle framework in his head, he gets suspended," Cheika said. "This guy doesn't think about the high tackle framework and we get penalised.

"As a rugby player, a former player, I am embarrassed."

It is unclear whether Castle spoke directly to Cheika after these comments, which did not go down well at World Rugby headquarters.

A day after telling reporters they were callous for asking about his coaching future, Cheika resigned as coach. He then said he had “pretty much no relationship” with Castle and “not much” with RA chairman Cameron Clyne.

Sources suggest Cheika's surly attitude towards World Rugby and overall "us-against-them" demeanour filtered down to other members of the Australian setup.

Days after Australia’s premature exit, the Herald revealed Castle and Cheika had been involved in a heated verbal stoush weeks earlier at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo that left Castle visibly upset.

A deteriorating relationship between the pair was there for players, staff and other onlookers to witness that evening as Castle and Cheika had to be pulled apart by former Wallaby Morgan Turinui as tensions boiled over.

World Rugby declined to comment.