An apologetic Kurtley Beale says his focus is now solely on the rugby after admitting videos featuring him had created a “bad image” for the game. The Wallabies and Waratahs playmaker was forced into damage control last month after two videos were released of him in the presence of white powder.
First he appeared on camera with NRL player Corey Norman, who was heard encouraging an older man in their company to snort a line of white powder. Then Beale was filmed playing a vacuum cleaner like a didgeridoo in the presence of a plate containing lines of a similar-looking white powder.
Beale met with and was cleared of any wrongdoing by Rugby Australia once the footage had surfaced.
Speaking publicly for the first time about the incident, Beale said he understood the stress it had caused the code but that his first appearance for the Waratahs this season – against the Sunwolves in Tokyo on Saturday – was his only focus.
“I’ve spoken to them [Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle] and I apologised at the time and now my full focus is on the Waratahs and adding my bit to hopefully a successful campaign,” he said.
“The videos were firstly five or six years ago and I understand that it may have caused a bit of a bad image to the game. I understand that, so it’s always important to do that type of stuff [apologise] and understand the responsibilities in the game as a player.”
Beale was rested from the side’s tight opening-round loss, with Queensland recruit Karmichael Hunt filling the void at inside centre expertly. Hunt will move to outside centre this weekend with Adam Ashley-Cooper (concussion) likely to travel but not play, allowing Beale to resume his preferred No 12 role.
“There is a lot of rugby to be played and I think it’s important that now the priority is the Waratahs and to make sure that I’m doing every little bit to make sure that we are successful this year,” Beale said. “It was a bit tough watching the lads play on the weekend … I’m pretty keen to get back into it.”