Kurtley Beale signs two-year deal with Waratahs
Friday 10 March 2017 13:32, UK
Australia utility back Kurtley Beale will rejoin the Waratahs for the 2018 Super Rugby season.
The 28-year-old has been coaxed home from Wasps by Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, who wants him to take on a key role in the Australia set-up.
And, with the World Cup in Japan looming in 2019, Beale has signed a two-year deal with the Australia Rugby Union and the Waratahs.
Cheika said: "It's great for Australian rugby that we have Kurtley coming back to play his footy on home soil.
"Even though he's only been gone a year, it's a very different Wallabies team now, but he will have an important role to play for Australia and the Waratahs as well.
"He has obviously learned a lot from his time overseas so I'll be looking for him to help the team reach higher standards this year."
Having played 60 Tests, Beale was still eligible to be selected for the Wallabies while playing overseas and he says leaving Wasps was not a move he made lightly.
"This has been a really hard decision because of how much I've been enjoying my time at Wasps," he told the Premiership club's website.
"I came very close to agreeing a new contract with Wasps, but I believe to achieve my international rugby aspirations I need to be back home in Australia.
"To be able to wear the Wallaby jersey again would be the greatest privilege and, at this stage of my career, I want to give myself the best opportunity of representing Australia in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
"The vision Cheik has for the Wallabies is really exciting and is something I really want to be part of and contribute to."
