Kurtley Beale recalled to Wallabies for Nations Championship and set to face England in London

Kurtley Beale has been recalled to Australia’s squad for the Nations Championship this month and is due to face England in London this weekend.

Rugby Australia have spoken of an ambition to revive union’s golden past and Wallabies coach Les Kiss selected Beale as part of that effort; Beale, who turns 38 in January, was born in Blacktown, grew up in Mount Druitt, attended private high school and made his debut for the Waratahs in 2007.

Beale said he returned because “I just kept believing, I felt like there was some unfinished business,” adding: “I guess the focus was always on trying to make sure my body was right, my mind was in a good headspace.”

In the days after the last time he was recalled to the Wallabies, at age 35, Beale suffered an Achilles rupture playing club rugby; many considered it career-ending, but he told then-Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt he would be back and less than a year later he was playing Super Rugby again. “It was a rollercoaster ride,” Beale said. “There was a lot of support there and, yeah, there were some tough days but I feel like that allowed me to be the person I am today, and allowed me to stay motivated and still be attached to my goals.”

Beale has been a regular presence for the Western Force in recent seasons, covering behind Wallabies No 10 Ben Donaldson and filling roles at inside centre and full-back; lining up at No 12, he helped the Force to a Super Rugby Aus title last month playing outside flyhalf Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, who debuted for the Wallabies against the All Blacks.

The Force have offered Beale a train-and-trial contract for next year after signing his former Wallabies teammate James O’Connor; Beale described the arrangement as another opportunity, saying: “I’ve always built myself in that way to be able to be ready if an opportunity came. I was just looking for a spot for next year. I’m glad that I’ll be able to do that with the Force and hopefully, I’ll push along there too.”

Kiss’s recall arrives while the Wallabies remain unsettled in key positions — the team has experienced turnover at flyhalf, suspension and injury have affected the centre stocks, and full-back Tom Wright has yet to find consistent form under Kiss.

Across 95 caps for Australia, Beale has won the John Eales Medal in 2011 and appeared at three World Cups, including the 2015 final; his early career drew attention for off-field controversies, and his personal life returned to public scrutiny in 2023 when he was found not guilty of sexual assault at a Bondi pub, an episode that led Rugby Australia to stand him down so he could not play at all during that World Cup year.

Back in the Wallabies fold, Beale said he will help younger teammates “open their minds up” when coping with international rugby and, when asked whether he still had “an X-factor” in his game, he replied: “What do you reckon?,” he smiled back. He added: “I feel like if I’m training well, doing all the one percenters off the field, [understanding] my role, strategy – whether you’re in the 23 or you’re not in the 23 – but I’m adding value, I’m feeling good, then 100%.

He will join the Wallabies squad for the Nations Championship Tests and is scheduled to be part of the match-day preparations for the England game in London this weekend.