'World Cup dream': How Wallabies recall 'reignited the fire' for Beale

Test veteran Kurtley Beale is daring to dream of a fourth World Cup appearance after his stunning Wallabies recall “reignited the fire” to play international rugby.

Once heralded as a wonderkid of Australian rugby, Beale has had to battle and overcame near unprecedented scrutiny and pressure throughout his decorated career.

Beale was a schoolboy sensation with St Joseph’s College, and rapidly rose to stardom after his highlights reel went viral online.

The rising star was invited to a Wallabies camp when he just 16-years-old, and shared a room with one of Australia’s all-time great in Matt Giteau.

After bursting onto the Super Rugby scene with the Waratahs in 2007, the rising star quickly became a mainstay of their matchday squad – which led to higher honours with Australia A later that year.

But the schoolboy sensation, who was now a star of the professional game, was always set for more.

Beale made his international debut off the bench against Wales in Cardiff, as he replaced good mate Drew Mitchell on the wing.

The utility back has gone on to play almost 100 international matches in the coveted gold jersey, and has played a part in some famous Tests during that period.

But after three World Cups, and two stints overseas with both the Wasps and Racing 92, Beale is back in Australia after putting pen to paper with the Waratahs.

Speaking on Stan Sport’s Kurtley: My Story, the 33-year-old has revealed how a Wallabies recall during their end-of-season tour last year helped him realise that he wants to play “more rugby in the gold jersey.”

“It was awesome. It definitely reignited the fire to be able to have the opportunity to play for your country again,” Beale said.

“I guess it pretty much made the decision for me to come home and I feel like at the time, I was playing some of my best rugby over in Europe.

“Consistent week-in, week-out rugby and playing against some of the best in the world.

“Being involved in that spring tour and being under Dave (Rennie) and how he runs things and being in and around the lads, it’s a pretty unique environment and something that I wanted to keep being involved with.

“That time was definitely the time I realised I need to be playing a little bit more rugby in the gold jersey.”

The wounded Wallabies had a tough season this year, there’s no hiding from that, with more than 50 players running out for the national team across 14 Tests.

Even though Beale wasn’t one of those 51 players, the 33-year-old is still appears to be in the mix after he was included in the squad for the two Bledisloe Cup Tests.

Not only has Beale been there and done it domestically in Australia – having won a Super Rugby title in 2014 – but he’s also starred for two of the biggest clubs in Europe over the last decade.

You can’t teach experience, and the addition of Beale in any capacity during Super Rugby or potentially beyond is invaluable for Australian rugby.

The 95-Test veteran has inked a deal with his beloved Waratahs for the 2023 season as he chases his “World Cup dream.”

“Darren Coleman and I go way back in terms of coaching. He coached me for Norths in 2007, my first year out of school as a Shute Shield coach, and then under 20s as well,” he said.

“We’ve always had this strong connection and he reached out and asked if I would like to be back with the Tahs.

“He kind of knew that I wanted to come back at some stage because I’d kind of expressed my World Cup dream.

“It all worked out nicely. The reason why I came back is to go for that next World Cup. I feel like I’ve still got a lot to give to the game, a lot to my teammates.

“Experience goes a long way and I feel like I have that in spades in terms of knowledge of players and teams all over the world, and I think I could be valuable in that area.”