Kurtley Beale has reportedly knocked back an offer to extend his time in French rugby in a bid to play for the Wallabies at the 2023 World Cup.
RMC Sport newspaper in France reported the news on Monday night AEDT, although there has been no confirmation of his capture by a Super Rugby franchise.
The Waratahs loom as the likely destination for the 33-year-old who was returned to the fold on the northern hemisphere tour late last year by Dave Rennie.
The Tahs on Tuesday announced they had signed Welsh 94-Test cap centre Jamie Roberts on a one year deal to cover for injury concerns ion the squad.
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
“End of suspense. After many weeks of discussions, Kurtley Beale will not return to Racing, according to information from RMC Sport,” the paper wrote.
“Recalled by management of the Wallabies last November after his last international appearances at the 2019 World Cup, Beale has long weighed … on the one hand the prospect of evolving at the Waratahs to give himself every chance of being called up for selection in 2023, on the other a deal of two additional years at Racing.”
“After having recently exchanged with Wallabies coach Dave Rennie he has finally decided.”
The same publication has meanwhile reported that Rory Arnold is set to leave Toulouse, suggesting Japan might be an option.
Beale was clearly affected by his return to the Wallabies on the northern tour and he wrote a column for Code Sports that suggested he wanted more involvement in the national team set up.
Rennie had been given leeway to bring in as many overseas based players as required last season but made it clear he wanted to see some of those players return home to play in Super Rugby.
“It’s been good for me making the move to France to play for Racing 92. I enjoy the club and culture, but actually being removed from the Wallabies playing group and seeing them play again, I’ve realised how special it is,” Beale wrote.
“Watching what the Wallabies have done this year – beating the Springboks twice – helped reignite the flame for me. Seeing and admiring the growth under Dave, the rest of the coaching staff and Hoops, made me even more motivated at the prospect of being a Wallaby again.
“I could immediately sense the family feel within this Wallabies team. It’s a diverse squad, with a good mix of cultures, backgrounds and experiences and it doesn’t matter if you’re the youngest or the oldest (that’s me … how did that happen?!?) or how many caps you have, there’s a real brotherhood here.
“Combine that with Dave’s incredibly high levels of professionalism and you can sense that the group is working towards a new identity.
“The past two years has made me understand that nothing is a given and I really do miss it.”
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Dopey? Mmm…..coming from the curmudgeonly I may be grateful., Mick. Some aspects of the brutality of your critique may be fair. I don’t know which though. Maybe it’s because I’m dopey? Rennie, a dope and a curmudgeon walked into a bar. That’s it. It’s not a joke.
Jim
Guest
Don't get it. Why the excitement about a player whose time is past? It's like people who celebrate finding an old lolly down the side of the chair. It was the answer once but not now. I would have been more excited if the headline was about some unknown youngsters being given a chance, more responsibility, a leg up and a pay rise. Need to move forward not reinvent the past. R92 will just open their wallet to replace him.
JC
Roar Rookie
Hopefully RA is keeping in contact with him. Being injured/out of form must be very isolating when you’re overseas. He really shone at the Rebels outside Genia and Cooper, when they were on form. Even at the Tahs he had his moments. Hoping he does a ‘Kellaway’ and finds his way back.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
priceless Mick, couldn't agree more.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
The last outstanding, or even capable, first five we had is rising 50 now. Stephen Larkham finished up in 2007. The Wallabies lost their last talented, reliable full back, Chris Latham, at the same time. Younger fans will be astonished to hear that he could run straight ... and crooked too; could kick long to the seagulls, over the top and along the ground; tackle from the front, the side and from behind - and he was happy to do that job :stoked: ; was alert to the position of his teammates and understood that they could help :laughing: ; and he had the rarely seen ability to anticipate where he should be before he needed to be there!
jeznez
Roar Guru
Just saw he’s missed the last five games and missed five earlier in the season. Obviously number one, home or away is for him to be playing. He’s only had four matches out of fourteen. Not sure if there have been injuries or if he’s down the pecking order.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
I have read your several comments, Malotru, and I agree. Beale went on the UK Kon Tiki tour for Schoolies and showed nothing of worth. He hasn't improved on his limited skills in five years, but I read here the jubilation, the hyperbole about the added depth and winning talent and "His return is a massive positive" - aaarrghh! His time ended in Australia when no further interest was shown in him at the end of 2015. Sensei Rennie ought to be in overseas holiday group sales, he got away with about 50 or 88 tourists for four matches in four weeks - Perese, for example, played for 29 minutes as an injury replacement. The ARU needed a couple of tour buses to cart them around in November, yet they are broke! Australia's Harmless Wallabies are to play internationals this year and next, with several matches in September 2024, and they need sharp and talented young players who are able to monster over / twinkletoes around opponents to craft wins, which are now critical to the sport's survival. The dopey wise men and the dopey supporters need to come to terms with that.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
No. No! Say it isn’t so. :crying: “insincere … middle-aged bald white men” Is that type found here too? Now I feel quite unclean. Don’t disappoint me further and reveal they all – to a man – attended expensive private schools, please.¹ ¹ just like Roar hero Beale, St Joseph’s College; Saint Bono & Cooper, Anglican Church Grammar School; O’Connor, St Joseph’s Nudgee College; Slipper, The Southport School (Anglican); Captain Personality, St Pius X College; ….
Tez
Roar Rookie
The Tahs do not need Kurtley at 10 or 15. Donaldson should be preferred at 15 and allowed to develop and prosper. Harrison and Edmed should be the preferred 10s. Where does KB fit into that set up? On the bench as injury cover? By the way, imo Marky M is a very real liability in defence and under the high ball. He fits into the same mould as Maddocks.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
You are right, as it looks doubtful unless played behind closed doors. Hopefully things work out, the players will be on edge about what will happen.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
Yes MK, if the season goes ahead relatively unhindered, but that doesn't look as though it will happen. Fingers crossed.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
It will be an interesting season for sure Malotru, I am looking forward to seeing how all teams and players go. Especially my Crusaders :stoked:
Malotru
Roar Rookie
Possibly MK, but Kurtley has never, so far as I'm concerned, demonstrated much of a moral compass. On top of which he has a heart the size of a pimple, great frontrunner, but not much chop when the going gets tough. We will see how it all and Kurtley goes.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I understand your concerns, hopefully being back home will help him, I think this will help the younger players to lift their own performances. No one has showed yet that they want the jersey enough. This season will be a massive one for all players!
numpty
Roar Rookie
This comment says more about yourself then it does beale jc. Just poor form all round. Give me evidence of Beale being a 'grub' in the last 5 years... You've clearly made up your mind on him and no matter what he does or doesn't do (like taking a $500,000 pay cut to pay for the wallabies), you'll never change your mind. That's a sad way to live and view the world.
numpty
Roar Rookie
"Absence of major scandals is indeed not evidence he has matured as a person." :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: At this point, I don't even think you're reading the words you're typing. You have lost all semblance of a thread of logic. Peace out Markus.
Rugby wizard
Guest
At the top in terms of Quality,AUS has the two speed freaks 1.Koriolbete 2.Morahan Followed by Kelleway and after that DAYLIGHT and that might be the reason we don't win RWC 2023,just look at the quality and depth the other top nations have at 11,14 and 15.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Got me there Pat. You’re right he’s not a good player
Malotru
Roar Rookie
With all due respect though MK and TJ and yes experience counts for a lot, but Kurtley is no Dan Carter or Jonny Sexton. Throw into the mix that he is, and always has been, error prone and vulnerable under the high ball I can't see a place for him in the Wallabies. Long term future is (or should predominantly be) about bringing on younger talent and giving it the experience. My view is that the major reason for the excitement around the return of KB is that there are significant weaknesses for Australian Rugby in the backs and particularly at 10 and 15. Quite possibly clutching at straws.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
George, whilst I am strangely grateful for the compliment of omission? spoiler alert! – I’m not actually a ‘guru’. But I am touched at your ranking of me like that. Let me tell how I became a guru, the official criteria for which remains a mystery to me.. (and I hope that my revelation here does not see me stripped of my ‘title’) It was a few years ago, a warm summer, enthralled in mostly irrelevant preseason banter (like now). I was having trouble signing onto the Roar. My competence around joining Internet groups and device operation is decidedly ‘non-guru’. After assisting me above and beyond the call of duty, a certain Roar editor (his name is suppressed to protect him and his family) managed to help me into my subscription, and back into my favourite amateur word war. Anyway, at the end of it all, when I was signed up, he said, “Oh by the way, I made you a guru” Why? Wait for it…. “You’ve been around long enough” Wha!,,,? There’s the secret George. Don’t tell the other gurus. I suspect that they will be angry, after all the effort they put into guru school, and meditating atop snowy peaks in sack cloth, rugby boots sans socks, or sandals with studs. Let’s just keep that little secret between you and I. Kurtley is back. And with a glorious and it seems perennial excitement. I’m happy about that, wherever it leads.