Australian rugby news 2024: Former Wallaby Kurtley Beale in club comeback for Randwick

One month after being cleared of sexual assault allegations in court, former Wallabies star Kurtley Beale is set to make his return to the field – in club rugby.

Kurtley Beale is set to make his rugby return for Randwick this weekend, one month after being cleared of sexual assault allegations in court.

The former Wallabies star trained with Randwick last week and is in line for a shock start in the Club Rugby Championship match against Brothers in Brisbane on Saturday.

The match brings together Shute Shield champions Randwick against Queensland Premier Rugby champions Brothers at Crosby Park in Albion on Saturday afternoon, with a predicted crowd of 10,000 club rugby fans.

The appearance of Beale – who has played for Randwick throughout his career – would be a major boost for the Sydney team if his training form is any indication.

The 35-year-old was stood down by Rugby Australia from playing for NSW Waratahs in last year’s Super Rugby competition after he was charged with sexual assault.

Kurtley Beale was stood down last year – but was found not guilty of sexual assault charges in February. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

But it took a jury four hours to find Beale not guilty of committing any crimes while the pair were inside a toilet of a Bondi pub in December 2022.

Beale has been linked to a move to rugby league since the trial finished.

However, it is at his old rugby club, the Galloping Greens, where he is making his first steps towards a football comeback.

Beale looked fast and sharp during a training run in Coogee alongside Randwick players who claimed the premiership last year in a tense grand final win over Northern Suburbs.

He switched between five-eighth and fullback and showed enough spark to convince coach Stephen Hoiles he is ready to play in the big match on Saturday.

Beale has played 95 Tests for the Wallabies, and was a teammate of Hoiles at NSW when the Waratahs won the 2014 Super Rugby title.

Originally published as Australian rugby news 2024: Former Wallaby Kurtley Beale in club comeback for Randwick