EXCLUSIVE: Wallabies great George Gregan accused of ‘racist’ language

Wallabies great George Gregan has been accused of using “hateful, racist language” while allegedly plotting to remove a former business partner from the company the man founded. Sky News can exclusively reveal that the explosive conversations between the most capped Wallaby and another former player are set to feature in a high-profile trial next month. Mr Gregan and Matthew Dixon, a former NSW Waratahs player, are accused of hatching a plan to oust Alexander Goldberg from PTP Fitness, the fitness product company the Jewish businessman founded in 2010. A series of SMS and WhatsApp messages between Mr Gregan and Mr Dixon were tendered to the Federal Court by Mr Goldberg’s barrister Robert Stitt QC during a pre-trial hearing. In one text message on May 3, 2019, Mr Gregan sends Mr Dixon a photograph of a Nazi warplane with a web link to the definition of “blitzkrieg.” “When we strike it’s going to be an avalanche... aka Blitzkrieg! “Nose and ears bleeding and he won’t be able to stand up because he’ll have no legs... he took on some bad asses and this is the consequence of his actions...” In an earlier message sent on April 10, he writes: “My mother’s maiden name... translates to ‘Kill First ask questions later’... this time has arrived.” A fortnight later, he texts: “We will drop the guillotine and hammer very soon to rid ourselves of this parasite.” Over the course of the exchange, Mr Gregan repeatedly refers to Mr Goldberg as a “cockroach”, including writing on May 2: “I’ve got a war chest for this cockroach!” Jewish community leader Dr Dvir Abramovich, chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, said such use of Nazi imagery is “unacceptable”. “It’s unAustralian, it’s offensive and it should be rejected outright,” Dr Abramovich said. He said the terms “cockroach” and “parasite” were associated with a long history of antisemitism and the vilification of Jews, dating back to the Nazis. “Hitler in his book Mein Kamf called the Jews ‘parasites’,” Dr Abramovich said. “The Nazis, who did not see the Jews as human and not worthy of life and dignity, often labelled the Jews as sub-human and as ‘cockroaches’. “These kinds of terms are hateful, they’re racist and they should never be used in any context.” Mr Stitt told the court that the messages “disclose that the campaign of oppression is manifest, it’s malicious and it’s highly personal and it’s directed against Mr Goldberg personally.” Mr Goldberg founded the company Fitness Systems, which trades as PTP Fitness, from his apartment 11 years ago. PTP is now a multi-million dollar business with products stocked in Rebel Sport and on website The Iconic. Mr Goldberg brought in his brother-in-law Matthew Dixon first as an investor and later a co-director. In turn, Mr Dixon brought in his friend George Gregan, at first only as an ambassador receiving a $20,000 annual fee. But in 2019, Mr Gregan also became a director and started receiving a salary, the same year Mr Goldberg claims his employment was wrongfully terminated while he was on carer’s leave supporting his partner who had given birth. Mr Gregan and Mr Dixon are defending the allegations and have launched their own cross-claim, alleging Mr Goldberg breached his statutory and fiduciary duties as a director. When contacted by Sky News, Mr Gregan said he could not comment on the messages while the case is still before the court. “I put my faith in our legal system to make a fair judgment,” Mr Gregan said. The matter is set down for trial on June 15.

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