Kurtley Beale will always remain loyal to Wallabies if it means inspiring young indigenous kids

KURTLEY Beale is yet to decide if he’ll take up a million dollar offer to play overseas but he is certain about one thing - he’ll never say no to a Wallabies jersey.

Kurtley Beale says wearing the Wallabies jersey can inspire young indigenous children.

KURTLEY Beale is yet to decide if he’ll take up a million dollar offer to play overseas but he is certain about one thing — he’ll never say no to the Wallabies jersey.

Not only does Beale have immense pride in playing Tests for Australia but as the only indigenous athlete regularly picked for the Wallabies in the past decade, the 27-year-old understands the greater power of him pulling on the gold jersey.

“Obviously Matt Hodgson has been around, and the Faingaa brothers have been there as well, but yeah that’s important, having a face like myself and representing my people (in the Wallabies), it can definitely help young indigenous kids,” Beale said.

Kurtley Beale says having pride in the Wallabies jersey can inspire young indigenous children.

“It just gives hope I think for a lot of the young guys out there wanting to play rugby union. That’s important.

“Being an indigenous man, if I can have any effect on young indigenous kids coming through ... helping them achieve whatever they want in life, I would be a very satisfied person.”

With only a faint fraction of the indigenous representation in NRL and AFL, the ARU are keen to grow participation among Aboriginal communities. But at the moment the flag in elite rugby is flown almost solo by Beale, and after a concerted effort to learn more about his heritage in the last five years, he now embraces the role.

Beale was enthusiastic when asked to pose for a photo in front of an Aboriginal flag mural on a wall at the Alexandria venue where the new Wallabies jersey was launched on Wednesday.

The slightly altered Australian jersey, reverting back to the pre-World Cup design, is sure to be on Beale’s shoulders come June.

Of as much interest, however, to what number will be on Beale’s back — above or below no.15 — is whether the NSW centre will announce a move to English rugby next season or re-sign with the ARU.

Beale was offered the staggering sum of $1.35m a season by Wasps, and even though there has been a big fight mounted by Michael Cheika and the ARU to keep the playmaker, their confidence wavers knowing the money would be very hard to turn down.

“​I am just waiting for my agent to get it all sorted,” Beale said.

“It is obviously a big decision for myself and the close people around me.

“We have got to try and make the right decision there for everyone involved. It has been bit of a long process but we are going to get something out very shortly. I am just waiting for (manager) Isaac (Moses) to sort a few things out there.”

L-R: Rob Horne, Bernard Foley, Israel Folau, Kurtley Beale and Nick Phipps pose in the new Wallabies jersey.

Armed with 60 caps, Beale qualifies under the Giteau Law to keep playing for the Wallabies while based in England.

This may prove telling in Beale’s decision. He can leave, take the insane money and still play for the Wallabies — for all the reasons mentioned above.

Asked if, regardless of whether he stays or goes, he would still be keen to play as many Tests as possible in the future, Beale said: “One hundred per cent. I think I still have a lot of football in me and a lot to give back to the game.

“Obviously there are a lot of things to achieve within the game still, as a player and being involved in teams. The big one was winning that 2014 Super Rugby final the other year and having a taste of that, it’s like a drug you know, you want to feel more of it.”