28 Nov 2008

Australian league coach issues apology

7:07 pm on 28 November 2008

Australian coach Ricky Stuart has belatedly apologised for his "offensive" behaviour towards rugby league World Cup officials.

In a statement issued through his manager, he says he has sent apologies to the World Cup final referee Ashley Klein and British referees official Stuart Cummings and wants to talk to them, too.

Stuart is the subject of a Rugby League International Federation investigation after reports he used several obscenities and accused Klein of cheating.

The outburst was heard in a hotel foyer the morning after New Zealand won the World Cup.

He says the emotion that set in after the upset loss had not subsided the next day and he deeply regrets losing control and acting irresponsibly and irrationally.