‘It sucks’ – Heartbreak for Kurtley Beale as severity of Achilles injury confirmed

Kurtley Beale’s career could be over after the worst fears were confirmed following a scan on his injury on Monday.

The 35-year-old played a club match on Saturday but limped off during the encounter with a serious-looking Achilles issue.

Beale was one of the intriguing inclusions in Joe Schmidt’s 38-man squad ahead of the Test series with Wales, which starts this weekend.

He was sat on 95 caps and was looking to reach a century this year, but that now appears unlikely.

Rupture

It has been announced that the playmaker has ruptured his Achilles tendon which appears almost certain to rule him out of the rest of 2024 at the very least.

“It’s super sad and everyone’s feeling for Kurtley,” Wallabies flanker Fraser McReight said.

“It’s not one anyone really wants to hear – someone doing their Achilles or a major injury like that. I’m sure everyone’s sent him a message and really feeling for him.”

Beale has not played for the Wallabies since 2021 but was looking to make his international comeback after impressing for Western Force this year.

The full-back had his return to Australian rugby delayed after a sexual assault charge took him out of the game for the whole of 2023.

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Joins the Force

He was eventually found not guilty in February 2024 and then signed for the Force in Super Rugby Pacific, making his debut in April, but injury has curtailed his comeback.

Beale has undergone surgery to repair the issue but he is unfortunately set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines.

“It could be anyone, but it’s horrible to see,” back three player Andrew Kellaway said.

“Even worse, KB is someone I grew up watching and then eventually playing with, he’s someone who I consider to be a close mate.

“It sucks to see him right on the brink and then right back where he wants to be and we were all excited to have him back.”

New era

This latest news will be tough for the Australia squad to take as they look ahead to a fresh start under new head coach Schmidt.

There has been plenty of excitement since Schmidt was announced as the Wallabies’ boss, with the ex-Ireland head honcho a highly respected figure in the game.

He is set to announce his first 23 later in the week as they prepare to face a struggling Wales side on Saturday.

Although the Wallabies were knocked out of the Rugby World Cup pool stages by Warren Gatland’s men following an embarrassing 40-6 defeat, the northern hemisphere outfit have gone backwards since then.

The Welsh finished bottom of the Six Nations after losing all five of their matches and recently succumbed 41-13 to world champions South Africa at Twickenham.

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