Beale hopes to thrust himself back into Wallabies frame

Veteran fullback Kurtley Beale said Thursday he hopes to force his way back into Wallabies contention after signing a short-term contract with Western Force.

The 35-year-old is set to resume his career with the Perth-based Super Rugby side next week after being cleared of sexual assault in February, allegations he always denied.

He was arrested in January 2023 and suspended from all forms of the game, missing out on playing at a fourth World Cup.

Beale said he had trained while sidelined and “I feel like I’ve got a lot to add to the game”.

“I had a year off last year and it was a great opportunity to really focus on my physical being, my mental well-being,” he said after arriving in Perth.

“I trained all that time for this moment now and again I’m very thankful for the opportunity here and I’m just really excited for the challenge ahead.

“I’m hoping that I’ll be able to kind of go back to the level playing that I’m used to and hopefully progress, keep growing as a player.”

Beale, who has been capped 95 times, said he had spoken with new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt.

“I had one brief chat. Look, he’s got a busy job at the moment in terms of settling in himself,” he said.

“But basically he just wanted to see me play some rugby… hopefully I’ll be able to put in some consistent performances for the selectors to be able to look at.”

Schmidt takes charge for the first time against Wales in July.

Beale, who will link up at Force with Wallabies scrum-half Nic White, is tasked with helping guide the team into the Super Rugby playoffs.

But he has a tough job, with the struggling side — who have a bye this week — collecting one win from seven so far this season.

“Quite a young group, young guys aspiring to be rugby players over here who don’t really get that much opportunity to interact with international players,” Beale said of Force.

“I guess part of my job being here is also helping those young guys come through and help them with the little areas of their game to be able to take it to the next level, and I’m really excited about that.”

mp/pst

AFP

(NAMPA / AFP)