Wasps signing Kurtley Beale facing up to six months out with knee injury
Sunday 15 May 2016 08:53, UK
Wasps' superstar signing Kurtley Beale has been ruled out for up to six months with a serious knee injury suffered while playing for NSW Waratahs on Saturday.
The Australia full-back landed awkwardly after challenging for a high ball in the opening seconds of the Waratahs' Super Rugby game against the Bulls in Sydney and will undergo surgery on Monday.
A statement from the Australian team on Sunday confirmed he had suffered a tendon injury, albeit not as bad as first feared.
"Beale is likely to be sidelined for four to six months with scans revealing his patella tendon has torn from his patella," the team said.
"The result is the best possible prognosis given the tendon remains intact, requiring less invasive surgery, and that the injury is isolated with no other damage to the knee."
Beale, who has 60 international caps, announced on Friday he will leave Super Rugby at the end of the season to join Wasps in a deal that will reportedly make him the highest-paid player in the Premiership.
The news means the 27-year-old will miss the three-Test series against England in June and the start of the next Premiership season.
The injury soured the Waratahs' fourth straight win and is a major blow to the side's hopes of making the playoffs ahead of a tough tour of New Zealand.
"He's such a charismatic player. There's a lot of great players around the world but they don't really have that aura around them around the club," said Wallabies team mate Nick Phipps.
"He's the one who picks you up when you're down. He's always happy having a laugh and his rugby mind is second to none. He's really tough to replace."
