Kurtley Beale wants the the Wallabies to wear their indigenous jersey at the World Cup, believing it galvanises the team for big games – but it could hinge on the toss of a coin.
The indigenous jersey was debuted in last year’s Bledisloe Cup win over New Zealand and will be worn against England at Twickenham on November 24, with the players instrumental in the decision.
“I think it’s going to be an awesome opportunity to be able to wear such a special jersey that not only represents indigenous Australia but all of Australia, overseas,” Beale said on Wednesday.
The most-capped indigenous Wallabies player with 80 Tests, Beale said there was widespread support among the playing group for the jersey to be worn more frequently.
“It would be great to wear this jersey throughout the year. I know there’s full support form the playing squad,’ Beale said.
“I think the fans in general would love to see another strip out there that recognises our first nation’s culture.
“It would be nice to wear it at the World Cup one day but that’s something that we can maybe talk a lot longer down the future.”
Beale said he hadn’t broached the issue with Rugby Australia (RA) CEO Raelene Castle.
Even if RA is receptive to the idea there’s no guarantee it would get used, as prior to the last World Cup a coin toss was used to determine which nation had first choice of kit for each pool phase match.
“I think you have two strips at the World Cup,” Beale said.
“So to have the (indigenous) jersey in the back pocket for a big game, I know it can galvanise the group leading up to a big game, I certainly felt that last year.
“You can can only see the reaction when we wore it against the All Blacks last year …”
Beale admitted to being a little surprised at how much the players and public had embraced the jersey last year.
“I think overall it just kind of brought everyone together, especially in that week last year leading into the Bledisloe,” he said.
“By wearing the jersey it brought us together, even tighter, and we got the job done.
“Maybe that was part of the reason why people got around it.”
Beale wants more indigenous players in the Wallabies and noted the emergence of some in Super Rugby.
“There are a few guys, the young halfback from the Melbourne Rebels, Harrison Goddard, I think he’s an enormous talent,” he said.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
+1
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Very true Kane. Smacks of virtue signalling when the team needs plans, skills and guts and not more flags.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Agreed!
Don
Roar Rookie
Yep Shame really. But we know how welded MC is to a second playmaker and most of our attack relies on Beale touching the pill. I don’t wish injuries on anyone but would love to have seen Beale and Foley unavailable and given Toomua, Hodge and Tom English a shot at 10, 12 and 13 respectively just once during the RC.
Mitch Gray
Roar Rookie
No no no! Keep it just for the Bledisloe Cup games...
piru
Roar Rookie
Wear it all the time - it's something uniquely Australian. NZ taps into that with the haka, the Silver Fern and the anthem in Te Reo, time Aussie did the same.
sheek
Guest
Sometimes though you wonder which 'country' it is some of these guys are supposedly representing??? With professionalism has come opportunism. I'm all for the indigenous design becoming permanent. We don't do enough to recognise our first Australians.
Kane
Roar Guru
What they then need is something/someone who can make them play like that week in and week out. A coach comes to mind? Agreed, wear it at home where the home teams fans who are the ones who will appreciate it the most can!
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
It’s hard to feel passion for something when the coveted jersey has become no more than an advertising billboard. Welcome to professional sports Ben.
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
I'm all for it to be an alternate strip. For all kinds of reasons, but galvanising the team is not one. To say that it is the motivational answer based on one game and that game is ludicrous.
BennO
Roar Rookie
This is great stuff. I'd be happy if they wore it every game from now on. As for the comments suggesting the players shouldn't need this to 'galvanise' them because they should have passion for representing their country. Perhaps the players feel they are able to more genuinely represent our country when our first nation's culture is represented on their jersey and so comes the extra passion. The current jersey most strongly represents QANTAS, so it's not surprising to me that it might not elicit the passion of a bygone era. It's hard to feel passion for something when the coveted jersey has become no more than an advertising billboard. The indigenous representation brings back some much needed authenticity.
riddler
Roar Rookie
as said on another thread. prefer the green and gold classsic from 80's to early 90's.. especially for the world cup.. as someone else said, we shouldn't need a jersey to strengthen the spirit etc in the team.. just the fact of representing oz should be all it takes.. in my opinion..
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
He's definitely going to start at 12.
Don
Roar Rookie
Yeah, that wavy faux mullet he was sporting for a few weeks was a crime. Hopefully we won’t see Kurtley wearing the indigenous design strip against England until about the 60th minute in the match when he comes off the bench...
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Good idea, I think.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Why? The whole point in calling it Indigenous, I imagine, is also to inclusive towards Torres Straight Islanders.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
It definitely did galvanise the team last though though, I think. Weird choice to wear it away when it is only worn once each year.
Onside
Guest
If so, please call it ABORIGINAL.
Kane
Roar Guru
I don't think he should even be allowed to be a decision maker around his hair do.
peeeko
Roar Guru
Is Beale a decision maker on the board of Rugby Australia?