Kurtley Beale overcame a challenging childhood to become one of Australia’s finest indigenous sportsmen. In 2000, at just eleven years of age, Beale was unearthed as a sporting prodigy by one of the great rugby nurseries, St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill. Four years on and the school’s much heralded First XV coach Brother Anthony Boyd selected the then Year 10 student to play fly-half. Beale later wrote of that experience: “Making that First XV team at Joeys pretty much changed my whole mindset on life. It opened a lot of doors and I was becoming comfortable in my own skin. I found a little piece of my destiny, who I am and what I can be.” During that time Beale was also introduced to the man who went on to become his first manager, Glen Ella (Wallaby #621). Along the way, and at just 16 years of age, Beale signed with the NSW Waratahs. Within a year he was in his first Wallabies camp under coach John Connolly. In 2007, Beale made his debut for New South Wales against The Lions at Ellis Park and later that year narrowly missed selection to Berrick Barnes for the Rugby World Cup in France. Two years on Beale was chosen for his first Wallaby tour and made his Test debut against Wales in Cardiff. Beale has since attended, and starred in two Rugby World Cups, and in 2011 he won the prestigious John Eales Medal. In 2017, Beale returned to Australian rugby from England in such a spectacular fashion that he finished runner up to Israel Folau for the John Eales Medal despite having missed half of the Test qualifying period.
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
Beale captained the Australian Schoolboys, after three years in the Joeys first XV.
2007
Narrowly missed out on selection in the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.
2008
Again missed out on Test selection, after a second season of Super Rugby.
2009
Beale’s Wallabies debut came on the end-of-season Spring Tour, as a replacement winger for Drew MItchell, against Wales at Cardiff.
2010
Made his run-on debut at fullback against Fiji in Canberra scoring two tries. Kicked Australia to its first Test win over South Africa in Bloemfontein since 1963, with a long-range penalty goal. Played in 13 of the year’s 15 Tests and finished the season with 10 caps as starting fullback. Won Rookie of the Year at the John Eales Medal.
2011
As first-choice Wallabies fullback Beale played in 10 Tests but was cruelly 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
Missed the opening three Tests of the season after suffering a shoulder injury playing for the Melbourne Rebels but went on to play in all of the remaining 12 Tests. Kurtley’s versatility was highlighted by the fact that he ended the season with seven successive caps as starting flyhalf.
2013
Beale’s 2013 international season lasted just three Tests, undergoing surgery, after failing to shake that shoulder concern.
2014
Kurtley made a successful return to the Wallabies playing in the opening eight Tests of the season and became the 25th Australian to 100 Test points along the way. Beale was suspended for four Tests after a well-publicised disciplinary issue. He returned to the matchday 23 for the final two internationals against Ireland and England
2015
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, proving himself as a valuable utility player off the bench.
2016
Signed with English club Wasps for the 2016-17 season and was unable to play any Tests after a season-ending knee injury.
2017
Beale returned home to play a starring role for the Wallabies in the Test season. Beale took centre stage in the lead-up to the Wallabies’ third Bledisloe Test win, in which they wore the inaugural Indigenous jersey, an initiative Beale of which was a key driver.
