Overview
- Kurtley Beale was added to Les Kiss’s Wallabies squad in Britain as a surprise, last-minute replacement for Hunter Paisami, rejoining the group after a five-year Test absence.
- The 37-year-old has 95 caps and 19 tries for Australia and says he is physically and mentally ready to push for game time and to ‘‘create competition’’ among the team’s playmakers.
- Wallabies assistant coach Jon Fisher said selectors monitored Beale’s Super Rugby AU performances closely and judged that his current form warranted selection on merit.
- Beale is on a modest season-long ‘‘train-and-trial’’ contract with the Western Force and faces uncertainty over elevation to their main squad despite the national recall.
- His comeback follows a string of setbacks including a 2023 criminal charge for which he was acquitted and a 2024 Achilles rupture, and he says the recall strengthens his bid to play in Australia’s 2027 home World Cup.