Kurtley Beale back in Wallabies squad for UK spring tour
Kurtley Beale has been recalled to the Wallabies squad, five years after his last Test. Coach Les Kiss named the 37-year-old, who has 95 Test caps, in the touring group for the spring tour of the UK, according to The Guardian.
Beale comes in as a replacement for midfielder Hunter Paisami, who is unavailable for personal reasons. James Ramm and Kalani Thomas were also named to join the touring group. Rugby Australia confirmed the squad on its website under the headline "Beale, Ramm & Thomas finalise Wallabies Spring Tour squad" (Rugby Australia).
Beale is a playmaker, a player who sets up attacks by choosing when to pass, kick or run. Kiss said he will mainly cover inside centre, the position between the wingers and the fullback in the midfield line. Kiss also said Beale can play several positions across the backline, which is the group of players who attack with the ball outside the scrum and lineout.
Kiss pointed to form. He said Beale has been in great form for the Western Force in Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby AUS, the two competitions that cover the Australian and Pacific clubs. Beale last appeared in a Wallabies squad in 2024, when an Achilles injury, a tear to the tendon at the back of the lower leg, ended his season. His most recent Test was against Wales in Cardiff in 2021.
Beale has played at three Rugby World Cups, in 2011, 2015 and 2019. He has spoken in the past about wanting to reach 100 Test caps for the Wallabies, a target he is now five short of.
The tour gives Australia three Tests, against England, Scotland and Wales, before the Nations Championship finals in the UK on 21 to 23 November. The Wallabies go into the tour in a difficult spell. They have slipped to No. 7 in the world rankings after losing the Bledisloe Cup, the long-running series against New Zealand's All Blacks, for a 23rd straight year, according to The Guardian.
The tour also sits in the countdown to next year's Rugby World Cup, which Australia will host. Selection calls like this one are often about depth as much as form. A squad needs cover for injuries and withdrawals, and Beale's experience across several positions gives Kiss options at short notice.
Whether a player who last wore the gold jersey five years ago can add to the attack in a demanding autumn run is a question the three Tests will answer. For now, the Wallabies have their squad, and Beale has his chance.
