Kurtley Beale Poised to Make Randwick Debut, but Funeral May Force Absence
Rugby union veteran Kurtley Beale has been named in the starting lineup for defending champions Randwick in the first round of the Shute Shield. However, the former Wallaby star may miss the opening match due to a personal tragedy.
Randwick coach Stephen Hoiles revealed that he has a contingency plan in place if the 35-year-old Beale is unable to play this weekend. Beale’s younger brother William passed away unexpectedly two weeks ago, and the player’s funeral is scheduled for Friday.
“He has got his brother’s funeral tomorrow (Friday) so we do have a contingency, to be fair he’s probably had a harder couple of weeks now than that Brothers game because the reality of what’s happened has set in, and he’s still grieving,” Hoiles told the Daily Telegraph.
Beale had previously played for Randwick in a friendly match just two days after his brother’s passing last month. However, Hoiles acknowledged that the emotional toll of the funeral may be too much for the player to handle this weekend.
“I’m not certain about this week, I do have a plan if he has a tough day tomorrow and turns around and says ‘It’s all too hard’,” the coach said.
If Beale does take the field, Hoiles is eager to see the former Wallaby in action. The coach believes Beale’s time away from rugby has allowed him to focus on his physical and mental well-being, and he is optimistic about the player’s prospects.
“He’s looking really good as a result, he hasn’t taken 30 games of contact in that time. But he may miss it as it is the funeral of his brother, William, on Friday,” Hoiles said.
The coach also expressed his belief that Beale’s return to rugby will likely lead to opportunities with a Super Rugby club or an overseas team. With his wealth of experience and talent, Hoiles is confident that Beale’s impressive performance in the Shute Shield will not go unnoticed.
“Hopefully that’s here in Australia. But if not, somewhere else there will. I’m sure they already are to be fair,” Hoiles said.
As the rugby union community rallies around Kurtley Beale during this difficult time, all eyes will be on Randwick’s first-round match against Hunter Wildfires to see if the veteran player will make his highly anticipated return to the field.
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