Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt brought in 13 uncapped players for his first ever Wallabies squad ahead of the July Tests, but he also gave veteran Kurtley Beale a chance to return to the fold.
Beale had just played for the Western Force in the 2024 Super Rugby season on a replacement deal, and the 35-year-old was seen as someone who would be able to add experience and guidance for the plethora of young and untested players at international level.
However, on the eve of the first test against Wales, he was handed a massive blow that now puts his international career at risk.
The Sporting News breaks down the situation.
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What is Kurtley Beale's injury?
During a Shute Shield game in Sydney over the weekend, Kurtley Beale suffered a serious knee injury after coming off the bench.
He went down in back-play with no one near him, and had to be assisted off the field.
The worst fears were confirmed on Monday when scans showed Beale had suffered a ruptured achilles tendon, ruling him out of the July Tests.
How long will Kurtley Beale be out for?
Severe injuries such as a ruptured achilles usually take a minimum of 10 months to recover from, which rules Beale out of contention for any Tests for the rest of the year.
This includes The Rugby Championship and Australia's tour of the UK and Ireland later in the year for the Autumn Tests.
It raises the question as to whether Beale will ever feature for the Wallabies again; he was last selected in a squad back in 2021 and at 35 is coming very close to the end of his career.
With the potential impact recovering from such an injury might have, Joe Schmidt may not feel compelled to pick him in a Wallabies side again, which would be a sad way for his career in green and gold to end.
Kurtley Beale Wallabies career
Beale made his Test debut for the Wallabies in 2009, and shot to prominence in 2010 where he scored seven tries in 12 Test matches.
He also played a key role at the 2011 World Cup where Australia reached the semi-finals, though Beale missed out on playing in the loss to New Zealand due to injury; his performances in 2011 were recognised when he won the John Eales Medal for Australia's rugby player of the year, and he was also nominated for the IRB International Player of the Year award.
He was part of the side that played the touring British and Irish Lions in 2013, slipping during a crucial penalty goal attempt at the end of the first test, handing victory to the visitors.
He also played some of his best rugby for the Wallabies during the 2015 World Cup where they reached the final, although New Zealand would once again get the better of them.
His career has been marked by off-the-field controversies, with a highly publicised spat with a Wallabies team official in 2014 leading to a huge scandal involving then coach Ewen McKenzie; he has also been stood down for alcohol related issues and was also charged with sexual assault in 2023, though he was found not guilty of all charges in February this year.
How to watch Australia vs Wales: TV channel and live stream
Fans will be able to watch both Wallabies vs Wales Tests on free-to-air via Channel Nine, as well as the company's streaming platform 9Now.
Stan Sport will also be offering all of the Wales Tests as well as every other Wallabies match to stream live and on demand without ad-breaks during play.
| Television | Channel 9 |
|---|---|
| Live stream | Stan Sport/9Now |
