Wallabies: Kurtley Beale determined to overcome ‘dagger in the heart’ setback
Kurtley Beale in action for the Western Force and during a Wallabies training session.
Experienced Wallabies utility back Kurtley Beale believes his Achilles tendon injury happened for a reason and will not prevent him from trying to make a return to international rugby.
The 36-year-old sustained the injury last June mere days after earning a recall to the Wallabies squad ahead of their 2024 mid-year Tests against Wales and was subsequently sidelined for the remainder of the year.
Beale was rewarded with his Wallabies call-up after shining for the Western Force during the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific campaign after rejoining the Perth-based outfit as injury cover for Harry Potter.
At his age, Beale could have opted for retirement but that is not how he operates and he is working on his rehabilitation from his injury and is hoping to make his comeback towards the latter part of the Force’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Hopeful of making another Wallabies return
And the 95-Test Wallaby is hopeful that he will return to his best form and, in doing so, it will earn him another Wallabies recall ahead of their highly anticipated series with the British and Irish Lions in July.
Beale admits that his injury, which he suffered while playing for Randwick in the New South Wales Shute Shield, came as an utter shock.
“It was a weird sensation,” he told AAP. “It felt like a pop down the back of my ankle, and I kind of looked around, I thought someone kicked me, and no one was around me, and I kind of just fell helplessly to the ground.
“It was quite devastating at the time.
“I worked my way back from adversity the previous 12 months, and to get back and then have an injury like that, it was the dagger in the heart, so to speak.”
The adversity which he refers to is after he was found not guilty of raping a woman in the toilets of a Sydney bar in December 2022.
Due to his involvement in that court case, Beale was out of action for 14 months as he was suspended from playing the game which meant he missed out on representing Australia at his fourth Rugby World Cup.
The former Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels star has a philosophical view on his latest injury setback which he views as a blessing in disguise.
“I was absolutely devastated, heartbroken,” Beale said.
“But I guess everything happens for a reason. I really, truly believe in that now.
“And it was probably to be there for my two kids, who I love dearly, and to be there with my wife.
“It’s been an absolute blessing.”
At the time of his injury, Beale told Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt he would be back and now almost eight months later he is still determined to return to the international arena.
“I don’t think you can ever cut yourself short in this game,” he said.
‘I’ll be doing everything I can to be ready’
“Injuries come and go. I’ll be doing everything I can to be ready.
“I still feel like I can be a valuable member in a team, with my experience and game knowledge and rugby IQ.”
Visualisation is something which Beale strongly believes in and he is already visualising him running out for the Force against the Lions in their tour match on June 28.
He’s also visualised what it would be like to represent the Wallabies again at Test level.
“I did say briefly before that Spring Tour (that I’m determined to return), but we all know it’s a long journey,” Beale said.
“And we do know that it’s quite a significant injury, and especially in my position, speed and agility are paramount.
“I need to make sure that I have that spring and that speed to be able to be as effective as I used to be, as I know I can be.
“My motivation has purely been trying to get back to achieve more in the game and to help the Western Force achieve finals series rugby this year.
“There’s a lot of self-belief. I back myself to the moon and back to put myself in the best position to be able to achieve those things, but the focus is on the present.”