Kurtley Beale the driving force behind Wallabies’ ground-breaking indigenous jersey

KURTLEY Beale’s labour of love will finally come to fruition when the Wallabies become the first national team of any code to wear an indigenous jersey.

Kurtley Beale during the unveiling of the new jersey at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello

WHEN Kurtley Beale watches the All Blacks ​or the Springboks sing their national anthem, he sees something he admires.

Both national songs are sung with verses in English and in indigenous languages, and regardless of their backgrounds, players and fans belt it all out with pride.

Australia doesn’t have a multilingual anthem but next week in Brisbane, the Wallabies will take a historic step towards a similar mutual pride and respect by what they wear.

For the first time for a national team of any code, the Wallabies will wear an indigenous jersey.

Kurtley Beale during the unveiling of the new jersey at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello

The trademark gold jersey will feature green indigenous motifs, designed to honour all the Wallabies of Aboriginal descent and the influence of the indigenous community in rugby.

Beale was the driving force behind the jersey’s creation, and adoption, after taking the idea to the ARU last year.

Beale is jubilant he’ll be able to literally wear his heart on his sleeve against the All Blacks, with the two central pillars of his life - his culture and rugby - represented in the Wallabies jersey.

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“For myself, being a proud indigenous man and a person who loves rugby union, I couldn’t be more happy,” Beale said.

“I am stoked we are able to marry the two together.

“​I am so honoured to be able to get something like this done, for myself and for all the indigenous people out there.

“Probably more for the past indigenous players who have played the game and had a huge part in Australian rugby, and laid the path for indigenous kids like me to come through and aspire to. I looked up to Andrew Walker, Wendell Sailor, the Ellas.

Beale has used his rugby platform to promote reconciliation. Picture: Brett Costello

“That’s hopefully the impact this occasion can have on the next generation.”

Beale said his Wallabies teammates and coach Michael Cheika had been hugely supportive of the idea to play in an indigenous jersey. Cheika, in particular, pushed hard to get it through, Beale said.

“A lot of the boys have come up and said to me ‘it’s about time we have done something like this’,” Beale said. “Reconciliation is so important in this country, and I think with the ARU agreeing to this and starting to grow a special relationship to indigenous Australia, it’s only going to help bridge the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous. That’s so powerful. It is definitely a step forward.

“It’s going to represent a lot of people out there who represent who are indigenous, and non-indigenous as well.”

Though currently planned as a one-off, Beale said he hoped the Wallabies wearing the indigenous jersey would grow into something more and become an “annual” event.

He said this could be the Wallabies’ version of the New Zealand or South African anthem. For now.

“Players recognising our first peoples, it could give them a bit of extra pride and respect in their jersey,” Beale said.

“And that goes a long way when you’re out on the field and playing alongside each other. No doubt that’s what the All Blacks would feel, and no doubt that’s what the Springboks would feel. They’re small steps, but we are moving now and we are slowly getting there.

“​It’s great as an indigenous man to see our culture being recognised in the game and by the game. It is a beautiful thing.”

Beale won’t be letting his emotions get in the way of the huge task at hand in Brisbane: beating the All Blacks.

Beale at South Coogee. Picture: Simon Bullard

It’s a dead rubber as far as the Bledisloe Cup series is concerned but there is no such thing as a meaningless Test against the Kiwis, and the Wallabies enter the match with confidence.

They pushed the All Blacks right to the wire in Dunedin in August and though they were beaten in the dying moments, the performance still delivered a main line shot of confidence into the Wallabies’ ranks.

Beale, who scored the go-ahead try and in the 77th minute, said there was “much to take” from the game.

“​​I always knew that we had the squad to do something like that,” Beale said.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t finish it off but it has definitely helped our confidence and the boys are believing in ourselves, and in each other, about what we can achieve.”

After Beale’s indigenous dance at the jersey launch went viral, has he got similar moves ready to roll as a try celebration in Brisbane?

“​The Wendell didge with the corner post maybe?” Beale laughed.

“I have got Bernard there for maybe a shake-the-leg, I have got Izzy ready to do the Emu. Ha, no, we’ll see how we go. We’ll have to work on something.”

Originally published as Kurtley Beale the driving force behind Wallabies’ ground-breaking indigenous jersey