Fresh from making his return to club footy, veteran Wallabies star Kurtley Beale will join the Western Force.
An injury to versatile back Harry Potter opened the door for Beale to return to Super Rugby after his comeback last year was cut short before it even began.
Indeed, the 95-Test Wallaby missed the entire 2023 season after being charged with sexual assault.
But those charges were dismissed earlier this year, as he was cleared of all charges.
Immediately Beale set about resurrecting his career, as he returned for Randwick.
In less than an hour, the playmaker showed he’s still got it as he didn’t appear to miss a beat upon his return against Brothers in the Australian Club Championship.
Kurtley Beale of Randwick in action during the Club Rugby Championship match between Brothers and Randwick at Crosby Park on March 16, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Beale, looking fitter than he has in years, made one linebreak on his line and set up a length of the field counter, which saw Randwick hit back to narrow the margin against Brothers.
His club coach Stephen Hoiles, who played alongside Beale during the Waratahs’ 2014 Super Rugby championship, said “there is no doubt” he was ready for a return.
Most importantly, Force coach Simon Cron, who previously worked with Beale during his time at the Waratahs as the franchise’s forwards coach, was convinced too.
“With the recent injury to Harry Potter the door opens for Kurtley to join our squad,” Cron said.
“He will add valuable experience and rugby brains to our playing group.
“Kurtley has reached the top of the game during his playing career, playing at three World Cups, bringing up almost 100 Wallabies caps and winning a Super Rugby title.
“He also has very positive relationships with some of our existing squad members which was important in the decision.”
Australia’s Kurtley Beale (right) wants to become the first Indigenous player to play 100 Tests for the Wallabies. (Photo by David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images)
New Force chief executive Niamh O’Connor said she saw Beale as an integral part of the ambitious Super Rugby franchise’s plans for success.
“We know where we want to take the Club and Kurtley is an exciting addition in our plans for growth and success,” O’Connor said.
“Throughout our discussions with Kurtley, he’s shown us his burning determination and passion for the game. He’s very keen to make the most of this opportunity to play Super Rugby again.
“We are looking forward to welcoming Kurtley and his young family to the Club.”
Beale, who has been rocked in recent weeks following the death of his brother, said he was grateful to the Force for the opportunity to continue his career.
“I’m excited to join the Force and I’m looking forward to making the move to Perth with my family,” Beale said.
“There’s enormous potential across the Force’s playing group and I’m eager to support the momentum they’re building. I know I have plenty to offer and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue playing the game that I love.”
While Beale has made a quick return to Super Rugby, he will have a tougher task convincing Joe Schmidt he should be a part of his Wallabies plans going forward.
If he can though, Beale could press to become the first Indigenous player to play 100 Tests for the Wallabies.
Beale will likely compete with Max Burey for a starting spot in the side at the Force, with both players capable of playing at fly-half and fullback.
But it’s the experience Beale will offer that Cron will be keen to tap into as much as his ability with ball-in-hand.
Just as pressing for Cron is how to give his backline a chance after his forward pack were demolished by the Blues in Auckland on Friday night.
Missing a host of tight-five players, including Harry Hoopert, Atu Moli, Izack Rodda and new skipper Jeremy Williams, the Force copped another blow on the eve of the match with Santiago Medrano with concussion.
The absence of the key forwards meant the Blues, led by Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Angus Ta’avao, as week as brilliant back-rowers Akira Ioane, Dalton Papai’i and Hoskins Sotutu went straight through the Force.
Acting skipper Nic White said the Force simply needed to reset.
“We knew the contact zone was going to be important to us, we just didn’t win enough of those,” White said.
“They’re a big side, everyone knows that, we tried to move them around. We probably didn’t do that enough.
“Sometimes you’ve got to fight fire with fire sometimes and we lost most the majority of the upfront battles, so it’s tough on the back foot.”
Tony H
Roar Pro
A rap sheet?
Muglair
Roar Rookie
People severely underestimate this cs. You have a group operating inside its own bubble for 8-10 months a year, under physical and mental stress. Forget about individual skills, game plans, conditioning, if the mix of personalities is wrong, so goes performance. Remember Rennie's enthusiasm when KB joined the squad in Europe? If Kurtley had performed well in 2023 SR, and DR was coach, I was not going to be surprised if he was on the plane to the RWC. Turns out that two big ifs make a mountain.
cs
Roar Guru
Good comment Mugs. One small KB curiosity, among many bigger and more interesting, is that he has attracted praise throughout his career for his inspirational presence at training. Not much more than a sidebar in his story, true nonetheless.
cs
Roar Guru
I imagine he'll still have his touch. The interesting thing is how much gas?
ForceFan
Roar Rookie
The Force is running short of starters. There will still be plenty of time for the development players to get time off the bench.
West Aussie Exile
Roar Rookie
Agree totally re recruitment. There is a real disconnect between the aim of being 'the best rugby club in the world' and amateurish and short term recruitment that does not address the need for depth in front row and all forwards. I will support Force whatever but surprised that an organisation that prides itself on being strategic and innovative has been so poor in recruitment
piru
Roar Rookie
Well not really, he did some sort of damage in Laukota, there was a try down the near sideline where he pulled up and I thought he was done. He carried on, but looks like there was more to it
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
Injuries meant that the following players on Friday were all on short-term contracts: - both starting props - the reserve tight-head - one of the starting locks - #8 Plus, the reserve hooker was only signed on the eve of the season. It's difficult to have a team with cohesion when 6 of the 23 weren't in training camp.
piru
Roar Rookie
He absolutely can tackle But for a long time he wouldn't I remember him getting a rev up about it, then coming out next game and cutting guys down left right and centre for the Wallabies. Then he went back to not doing it again
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
Rodda played 11 games in 2021 (10 starts) and a couple more the following season before his injury. He hasn't played since, though, so it's effectively a couple of seasons he's missed already.
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
Quade got moved around to hide his lack of tackling ability, and sometimes Folau got moved around as well; Beale was often shifted around in the defensive line to plug those gaps. I've got several issues with Beale, but his tackling isn't particularly high on that list. He's a back who didn't mind tackling and getting into rucks. IIRC, he had quite a good record for jackaling.
SlytheeTove
Roar Rookie
Have to agree. White/IFL - Donaldson - Stewart - Spink is a respectable backline. Burey, Tiatia and Potter are solid. It's the pack (and especially the front row I think) where they are struggling. But the Blues defeat revealed an mental attitude problem and that is not simply a "reset" issue.
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
I think its was an old english guy who was escorted out of the rebs game from the twitter vid.
Mirt
Roar Rookie
They have Simon Cron clutching at straws with a 1-6 season so far
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
A pretty good fact is nominated for IRB player of the year. Halfpenny is a boot and can’t do anything as a runner. A rock solid boot. Good at catching. Good at returning kicks. Good at goal kicking. Catching and kicking, and kicking. A boot. The classic northern hemisphere/south african one dimensional player whose whole game is just kicking. Every significant victory of those years Beale had a major hand in. You conflate the period post 2014 with pre 2014. They aren’t the same. Indeed, Beale, Folau and Cooper were the best players to watch for the past 15 years or so. Three very talented ones too.
AgainAgain
Roar Rookie
He got dropped in 2012 and played flyhalf after that… and you watched every minute. You do not acknowledge a single thing I have said and fall back on absolute nonsense. He wasn’t even the playing fullback and he was coming off the bench. And you dismiss Halfpennies tries and ability at fullback. He started out on the wing, but all he was, was a boot you say? No, he could kick, run, tackle and was secure under the high ball. He was player of the tournament for the Lions in 2013 against Australia where he scored three tries and nailed 16 conversions. Did you watch those games. Not even Dagg who was in red hot form and starting for the AB’s you know the best side in the world was regarded as second to Halfpenny. But Halfpenny is not a patch on Kurtley. Far out you have absolutely zero idea. KPM, I don’t even know how you take yourself seriously when you can’t even acknowledge basic truths. Instead of me needing to watch games you need to come to terms with the fact, nobody except you think that KB was the best fullback in the world over the period you describe. He got dropped in 2012 and thereafter played from the bench in a team that was regularly getting flogged and he couldn’t even make that side. If you had any idea whatsoever, you would know these facts. But instead you just repeat silly rhetoric and opinion which has zero substance except in your own mind. So tell me these people saying KB was the best fb in the world when he got dropped and not playing in that position and playing games from the bench, you know not starting, outside of you and the voices in your head. I can tell you one person that wasn’t saying or thinking it. The Wallabies coach.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
I saw every second of every match and Beale was consistently outstanding for the period until 2014. Halfpenny has more creative talent in his little finger than Halfpenny who is nothing more than a boot. 'No-one was calling Kurtley the best fullback in the world. ' They absolutely were. Go and rewatch those matches and you'll be very surprised.
AgainAgain
Roar Rookie
No he wasn’t he got benched in 2012 because he was playing garbage. How do you miss that detail. In 2014 he was coming off the bench. In 2013 with Quade injured he was playing flyhalf before alcohol got the better of him, but during this period he was the best fullback in the world? Now compare that to Dagg, who in 2011 pushed out Mils Muliana ain 2012 started every RC match and the ABs won every match. In 2013, he started every match and the ABs won every game. In 2014 he pushed Ben Smith to the wing. Tell me in regards to kicking, high ball and running in tries, where Kurtley Beale had it over him. All you have is some recognition Beale had in 2011. Since then he got found out and was benched. You need to come to terms with the actual facts as opposed to repeating yourself and thinking your opinion is fact. Your opinion simply doesn’t stack up to the the view held by others including the Wallabies coach who benched him in 2012, after which he rarely played fullback again.yet he was still the best fullback.he wasn’t even the best in Australia let alone the world. Try watching Leigh Halfpenny for a world class fullback during that period. Add to that he was nominated for IRB player of the year in 2013 and got pipped by Kieran Read. No-one was calling Kurtley the best fullback in the world. He was done. I could mention other fullbacks of the time period too which were better than a flaky Beale, but I have said enough and any facts I provide don’t seem to find any acknowledgement by you anyway. So I will leave you with it, which I should have done after my first comment :happy:
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
He was a reasonable tackler for several years.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
'but he isn’t and never has been this great natural talent you purport him to be.' For several years until 2014 along with Israel Dagg he was the best full-back in the world. 'He is a natural runner, that is all, but there are at dozen fullbacks, wings and fly-halves in SR alone that are significantly more gifted than Beale. ' He may be much older than them now, but in terms of raw talent none in Australia have what he has naturally.