John Beagle is bringing legal action against the Brumbies, but the club is unconcerned. Photo: Jeffrey Chan
ACT Brumbies chief executive Michael Jones says it was the ACT government that helped broker their record sponsorship deal with Aquis and he thought the legal action taken against the Super Rugby club wasn't "going to go anywhere".
Fairfax Media revealed on Tuesday John Stanley Beagle was suing the Brumbies for failing to pay him a finder's fee.
Beagle claims he helped put the Brumbies' six-year, $8 million deal with Aquis together.
Aquis, who are owned by the billionaire Fung family, bought the Canberra Casino last year and increased their exposure in Canberra by signing on as the Brumbies' major sponsor in 2015.
Beagle claimed he helped facilitate the sponsorship, which was the biggest in the Brumbies' 20-year history.
His original statement of claim was struck out last month, but he's appealing the decision.
Jones was unconcerned by the proceedings.
"I don't expect it's going to go anywhere. It went before the court and was struck out and he's now appealing it," he said.
"We didn't even have to file a defence because the application was deficient and it was chucked out. There's no basis for it whatsoever."
Jones said the Brumbies had met with 83-year-old Beagle "out of courtesy".
He said they'd given the founder of the Australian Casino Association a standard Brumbies presentation to pass on to Aquis after Beagle said he was intimate with the Casino owners.
But Jones said it was the government who had helped bring the two parties together.
"The ACT government said to Aquis if you're coming to Canberra you guys should have a look at investing in Canberra so they're the ones who referred Aquis to us," Jones said.
"We already had 100 meetings with Aquis before I even met the guy."
Beagle, according to court documents, claims he met with former Brumbies chief executive Doug Edwards and senior staff about the deal prior to Jones' arrival.
Associate Judge David Mossop was expected to hear the appeal in the ACT Supreme Court at a later date.
