Rugby: Beale considered passing up Lions

Kurtley Beale will return from rehab for the Wallabies. Photo / AP

Troubled Wallabies star Kurtley Beale admitted he thought long and hard about sitting out the showpiece Lions test series to focus on overcoming his alcohol problems.

Beale yesterday spoke publicly for the first time since he scuffled with Melbourne Rebels teammates Gareth Delve and Cooper Vuna in an alcohol-fuelled incident in Durban almost three months ago.

The elusive fullback-five-eighths, who also lapsed in his rehabilitation a day after his initial return from suspension last month, said he was extremely grateful for the chance to play in the three-test series against the Lions.

Beale was on Monday named in the Wallabies' final 31-man squad and coach Robbie Deans is understood to want to start him in the first test on June 22.

"I'm feeling really good and really positive. It's great to be back in the Wallabies environment, they're a great group of boys and a lot of familiar faces," Beale said at the team's Caloundra training camp.

"I'm very excited and just over the moon and it's time to keep on and move on with my life."

Beale said there were plenty of times when he felt he wouldn't be back for the series, and also weighed up missing it to focus on his rehab.

"I had to obviously work on a few things off the field and I feel like I've done that now with the support of a lot of close friends, the ARU and the Melbourne Rebels.

"I'm grateful for that and without their support it would have been tough ... but I'm going to take this opportunity with both hands and help the Wallabies.

"I'm very excited to be back playing rugby, which I love doing, and it certainly takes a lot of the distractions away."

Flanked by the Wallabies coach, Beale happily answered questions about his return to the game from his misdemeanours before Deans moved to cut short questions about his rehab.

Although he had played just one club match in the past month, Deans felt Beale's skill and talent would see him cope with the high intensity.

The coach, whose role is at stake in the once-every-12-years tour, said it was a straightforward decision to reinstate lock James Horwill as captain over Will Genia.

- AAP