Kurtley Beale says he wants to come back to Australia and don Wallabies gold as soon as he can.
Beale opted out of a possible second season at Wasps in favour of committing to the Waratahs and the Wallabies.
“That Wallaby gold jersey means a lot to me and it’s always a privilege to get the opportunity to wear it,” he said on FOX SPORTS’ Kick and Chase.
“That was obviously the big factor to be able to get back home and get back into the Wallaby program to put my best case forward to represent the Wallabies over the next couple of years and at the World Cup.”
Though he would have been eligible to play for the Wallabies regardless of his club, having passed 60 Tests, Beale said he wanted to have as much time as possible to factor himself into Michael Cheika’s 2019 plans.
Beale’s relationship with Cheika was a major factor in him coming home, with the utility back flourishing at Super Rugby and Test level under the Wallabies coach.
Ahead of Beale’s signing, Cheika said he had big plans for Beale at Test level and Beale said that word was enough.
“Cheiks and I have gone back over the last couple of years and the 2014 year with the Waratahs built a pretty special friendship,” he said.
“He’s probably been the coach (who has gotten) the best out of me and obviously over the last couple of months, we’ve had some chats and his word I hold very strongly. I know how to work under him and I guess how he can get the best out of me." - Kurtley Beale
“To go back home, he (Cheika) definitely played a big role.”
Beale will be back in Australia for the Wallabies June series but said he was yet to speak to the Waratahs about any possible return in the regular Super Rugby season after that.
“My focus is to help Wasps to get to the finals over this side of the world and after the finals over here there’s a bit of a break to get the body rejuvenated to get home and back into training,” he said.
FOX SPORTS' Kick and Chase airs every Tuesday at 6:30pm and 8:30pm AEDT, on FOX SPORTS ONE 501.
