Beale called up for Wallabies Spring Tour ahead of Rugby World Cup

Veteran Kurtley Beale has answered the call to return to the Wallabies squad at the age of 37 for Australia's Spring Tour of the UK.

Coach Les Kiss is looking at Beale — who last played against Wales in 2021 — as a number 10 as Australia looks ahead to next year's Rugby World Cup.

The Wallabies will play Tests against England, Scotland and Wales next month before the Nations Championship finals.

Veteran playmaker Kurtley Beale has been summoned for the Wallabies' spring tour of the UK in a big development ahead of next year's Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Beale on Wednesday answered an SOS call from coach Les Kiss to join the squad for next month's three Tests against England, Scotland and Wales before the inaugural Nations Championship finals in the UK from November 21-23.

The 95-Test-capped Beale will replace midfielder Hunter Paisami, who is unavailable due to personal reasons, while James Ramm and Kalani Thomas were also named to join the touring group.

But the 37-year-old's inclusion will be the major talking point as Kiss seemingly considers biting the bullet and ending Australia's revolving door of flawed five-eighths by backing a proven number 10 to steer the wobbly ship ahead of next year's global showpiece.

Kiss's predecessors Joe Schmidt, Eddie Jones, Dave Rennie and Michael Cheika have used almost a dozen different playmakers since Bernard Foley guided the Wallabies — under Cheika — to the 2015 World Cup final in England.

But none of the likes of Noah Lolesio, Ben Donaldson, Carter Gordon, Tane Edmed or Harry McLaughlin-Phillips has been able to hold down the spot.

Fellow stalwarts James O'Connor, Quade Cooper and Matt Toomua have also had cracks without commanding the role.

Cheika has turned to Foley to rejoin the NSW Waratahs from Japan, more than a decade after the duo masterminded the club's one and only 2014 Super Rugby premiership.

Now it appears Kiss is seriously considering Beale to revive the Wallabies' fortunes after Australia slipped to number seven in the world rankings after losing the Bledisloe Cup for a 23rd straight year this month.

Beale last appeared in a Wallabies squad in 2024 before an Achilles injury prematurely ended his season. His most recent appearance in the gold jersey was against Wales in Cardiff in 2021.

But the silky-skilled talent and former World Player of the Year nominee boasts three World Cup experiences from 2011, 2015 and 2019 since first being called up by Wallabies coach John Connolly as a schoolboy prodigy.

"With Hunter's unavailability, we're excited by what Kurtley can bring to the group," Kiss said of the super versatile talent.

"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 back line.

"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."