Overview
- Kurtley Beale is on the bench for Western Force’s match with the Fijian Drua this weekend and will record his 186th Super Rugby appearance if he takes the field, which would move him past Aaron Smith into third on the all-time games list.
- Only Wyatt Crockett (202) and James Slipper (209) remain ahead of Beale on the appearances list, which frames Beale’s milestone as a marker of long-term durability in Super Rugby.
- The 37-year-old former Wallaby says he feels fresh and still has the “fire in the belly,” and he has indicated he could discuss playing on for another season with coach Simon Cron after the campaign ends.
- The Force sit six points outside the sixth and must beat the Drua and then the NSW Waratahs while relying on other results to have any chance of a top-six playoff berth, making the coming two home matches decisive for their season.
- Beale has publicly praised teammate Zac Lomax’s athleticism while noting his need to learn more about the game, and he has told James Slipper he can keep the games record, a sign of sportsmanship as the season closes.