Kurtley Beale makes stunning return to the Wallabies aged 35 after overcoming the biggest drama of his life

Veteran playmaker Kurtley Beale has been recalled to the Wallabies squad in Joe Schmidt’s long-awaited first team name since replacing Eddie Jones as coach.

Beale has been impressive since teaming up with the Western Force in the Super Rugby Pacific competition in April after being cleared of sexual assault charges.

In February, a NSW District Court jury acquitted Beale, 35, of one count of sexual intercourse without consent and two counts of sexual touching.

The jury took just an hour to reach a verdict on the alleged incident, which a woman said took place in a toilet at the Beach Road Hotel in Sydney’s east in December 2022.

Beale’s inclusion in Schmidt’s 38-man squad for Australia’s upcoming tests against Wales and Georgia was one of the bigger surprises of Friday’s announcement.

Beale, 35, has impressed since signing for the Western Force as an injury replacement

The one-time World Player of the Year nominee has not played for the Wallabies since the 2021 spring tour of Europe.

The versatile Beale, who has played fullback, wing, center and five-eighth among his 95 Tests, was one of 17 backs named, including 21 forwards.

NRL-bound five-eighth Carter Gordon and winger Mark Nawaqanitawase were overlooked, with just 14 players left from Jones’ ill-fated 33-man World Cup squad.

Brumbies halfback Ryan Lonergan was another omission, with Schmidt preferring to bring NSW Waratahs captain Jake Gordon back in from the cold.

There were also recalls for Brumbies number 10 Noah Lolesio and Reds backrowers Liam Wright and Harry Wilson, who suffered a broken arm midway through the season.

Rebels close Lukhan Salakaia-Loto won selection despite missing the back-end of the Super season after foot surgery.

Schmidt did not include players from abroad, while others including Max Jorgensen, Angus Bell, Rob Leota, Lachlan Lonergan and Dave Porecki were ruled out due to injury.

Elsewhere, Queensland Reds playmaker Tom Lynagh and hooker Josh Nasser have followed in their father’s footsteps, named in their first national squad.

New Zealand-born Joe Schmidt has replaced Eddie Jones as Wallabies head coach

Queensland Reds playmaker Tom Lynagh has a chance to emulate his famous father Michael, a Wallabies legend

Michael Lynagh and Brendan Nasser donned the gold jersey in the 1980s and 1990s.

Reds sponsor Alex Hodgman has moved a step closer to becoming the fourth player to represent Australia and New Zealand to qualify for the Wallabies through his Fijian-Australian father after four tests with the All Blacks in 2020.

Lynagh, Nasser and Hodgman are among 13 uncapped players as Schmidt looks to put Jones’ disastrous reign behind him.

Forwards Angus Blyth, Charlie Cale, Isaac Kailea, Ryan Smith and Jeremy Williams are in line for their first caps, along with backs David Feliuai, Josh Flook, Darby Lancaster, Dylan Pietsch and Hamish Stewart.

Winger Lancaster, 21, only made his Super debut with Melbourne this season but was preferred to Reds try-scoring whiz Tim Ryan, with Brumbies speedster Corey Toole left out to play sevens at the Paris Olympics if selected.

Wallabies squad for Australia’s upcoming tests against Wales and Georgia:

Come on – Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Blyth, Charlie Cale, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Alex Hodgman, Tom Hooper, Isaac Kailea, Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Billy Pollard, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Ryan Smith, James Slipper , Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson, Liam Wright.

Backs – Kurtley Beale, Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, David Feliuai, Josh Flook, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Andrew Kellaway, Darby Lancaster, Noah Lolesio, Tom Lynagh, Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, Nic White, Tom Wright.