Kurtley Beale

Kurtley Beale has proven his ability as a game breaker in the Wallabies back line. The 26-year-old’s World Cup campaign reinforced his versatility, with Beale playing at fullback, inside centre and on the wing during the tournament. Beale earned his 50th Test cap with the Wallabies in 2015 and played in the Wallabies’ victory over Argentina. The 2011 John Eales Medallist played in all but one Wallabies Test in 2015, capped off by his career-best turn out at the Rugby World Cup. Beale was just the ninth NSW player to tally 100 Super Rugby caps, over a career spanning the Waratahs and Rebels. The great partnership that evolved with fellow Wallabies back  Bernard Foley, was a cornerstone in NSW’s 2014 Super Rugby championship.

HIGHLIGHTS

2005

Represented Australian Schools against Japan High Schools, Samoan U18s and New Zealand Schools. Beale was picked in the Australian Schools squad to tour the United Kingdom and Ireland where he played No. 10 in each of the four Tests.

2006

Three years in the St Josephs’ First XV were crowned when Beale was named as captain of the 2006 Australian Schoolboys.

2009

Selected in the Australian squad U20s for the second-annual IRB Junior World Championships in Japan. Beale won his first Test cap on the end-of-season Spring Tour, as a replacement winger for Drew Mitchell, against Wales at Cardiff.

2010

Beale made his run-on debut at fullback against Fiji in Canberra and scored two tries. During the Tri Nations tournament he kicked Australia to an historic victory over South Africa in Bloemfontein with an 81st minute, 55 metre penalty goal to secure the Wallabies’ first Test win on the Highveld since 1963. Beale played in 13 of the year’s 15 Tests and finished the season with 10 caps as starting fullback. He won Rookie of the Year at the John Eales Medal.

2011

As first choice Wallaby fullback, Beale played in 10 tests but was cruelly and crucially ruled out of the key Rugby World Cup semi-final against New Zealand due to a hamstring strain. Beale edged future Wallaby captains Stephen Moore and David Pocock to win the prestigious John Eales Medal.

2012

He missed the opening three Tests of the season due to a shoulder injury suffered while playing for the Melbourne Rebels but went on to be capped in all of the remaining 12 Tests. Beale’s versatility was highlighted by the fact that he ended the season with seven successive caps as starting fly-half.

2013

Beale’s international season lasted just three Tests after Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie advised him to undergo surgery on his still troublesome left shoulder.

2014

He made a successful return from injury and played in the opening eight Tests of the season. When he kicked the third of his four penalty goals in the 12-12 draw with New Zealand in Sydney Beale became the twenty fifth Australian to score 100 Test match points. A well-publicised disciplinary issue saw Beale miss selection in the next four Tests before he returned to the match day 23 for the final two internationals against Ireland and England.

2015

After not being selected for the opening Test of an abbreviated Rugby Championship, Beale won his 50th cap against Argentina in Mendoza and went on to play in the final 11 internationals of the season including all seven matches at the Rugby World Cup.

2016

Beale signed with English club Wasps for the 2016/17 season.

2017

In order to achieve his international rugby aspirations Beale returned home to play a starring role in the Rugby Championship. The undoubted highlight of the season was the sight of him proudly wearing the inaugural Indigenous Test jersey in the 3rd Test victory over New Zealand in Brisbane.

2018

Beale underlined both his importance to the Wallaby squad and his versatility when he missed just one of the team’s 13 internationals. During the season Beale started at eight Tests at inside centre and three at fly half and finished three matches at fullback.