Test great wins shock Wallabies recall at age 37
Updated . First published at
Kurtley Beale has received a shock recall to the Wallabies squad with the 37-year-old drafted in as a replacement for Hunter Paisami (out due to personal reasons).
Utility back Beale has 95 Test caps and last played for the Wallabies in 2021.
Kurtley Beale of the Western Force Getty
Wallabies coach Les Kiss also on Thursday added outside back James Ramm and halfback Kalani Thomas to the initial 33-man Nations Championship squad announced last week.
“With Hunter’s unavailability we’re excited by what Kurtley can bring to the group,” Kiss said.
“He’s got 95 caps worth of Test experience and whilst he will primarily cover inside centre he has the versatility to play a number of positions across the backline.
“Kurtley’s also been in great form for the Western Force in Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby AUS and is excited to contribute to the environment.”
Ramm, 28, has signed to play for the Force next season.
“James is a player we’ve kept a keen eye on for a while and his form for Northland (in New Zealand) has been exceptional in recent times,” Kiss said.
“He’s someone who knows the UK well having spent a very successful period with Northampton and can cover multiple positions across the backline.”
Thomas will meet up with the squad after his Australia A commitments in the United States, with Tate McDermott expected to return to Australia for the arrival of his first child in November.
Earlier on Thursday, the Force announced that Beale had recommitted to the club on a season-long ‘train-and-trial’ deal.
He will only be available to play Super Rugby if a full Force squad member gets injured.
“KB has been a critical piece for the Force over the past few seasons, adding ball playing, experience and voice to our backline,” Force coach Simon Cron said.
Kurtley Beale of the Wallabies looks to pass the ball during the 2019 Rugby Championship. Hannah Peters
Beale signed with the Force in 2024.
“My family and I are rapt to remain in the west, which we’ve made home for the past few years,” Beale said.
“I’m loving working with this group, feeling good physically and excited to rip into pre-season.”
Paisami, 28, is settling into his new life in Japan after trading the Queensland Reds for the Shizuoka Blue Revs.
The Wallabies squad will depart for the UK on Saturday.
Kiss is sweating on the fitness of gun forward Tom Hooper, who injured his shoulder playing for the Exeter Chiefs in England at the weekend.
It is the same shoulder that Hooper broke playing for the Wallabies against Ireland at the weekend.
Tom Hooper (right) posing with Fraser McReight and the Mandela Plate. Getty Images
“Most of what we’ve seen is positive,” Exeter coach Rob Baxter said.
“So scans, CT, MRI, CTs show no re-fracture of that fractured scapula, very little, virtually no swelling. So I think our prognosis at this stage is that it’s been a hard bang on that fracture site that has created pain, numbness, and a lack of mobility, hopefully for a restricted period, and that we can assess him day-by-day now.
“The one thing that's really important is there's been no catastrophic injury there. So we're hopeful, and we'll monitor him day-by-day and see where we can get to by the end of the week.”
The Wallabies will play against England at Twickenham on November 9, Scotland at Murrayfield on November 16 and Wales at Principality Stadium on November 22 (all AEDT) before the Nations Championship finals on the last weekend in London.
England, meanwhile, are sweating on the fitness of first-choice No.10 Fin Smith, who hurt his calf playing for Northampton against Leicester at the weekend.
Smith has been replaced by Charlie Atkinson in England’s training squad, with George Ford or Marcus Smith the likely starters against Australia if the 24-year-old can’t recover in time.
Wallabies squad: Harry Wilson (c), Allan Alaalatoa, Miles Amatosero, Angus Bell, Josh Canham, Massimo De Lutiis, Tom Hooper, Isaac Kailea, Tom Lambert, Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Lachlan Shaw, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Kurtley Beale, Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, Carter Gordon, Isaac Henry, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Ryan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, Declan Meredith, Harry Potter, James Ramm, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Kalani Thomas, Teddy Wilson, Tom Wright
Australia line up for the national anthem. Getty Images
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