Wallaby fly-half Kurtley is preparing to face England on Saturday but he now knows the date of another battle next spring.
Beale will line up in the No10 shirt at Twickenham tomorrow afternoon as Australia aim to bounce back from defeat to France.
The 23-year-old Melbourne Rebels star remains one of his country’s greatest hopes for a reversal of fortunes in London but his long-term future in the lead up to next summer’s Lions tour is in jeopardy as he faces court on a common assault charge.
A Queensland Justice Department spokesman today confirmed that Beale’s case would be heard on February 6, a week-and-a-half before the new Super 15 season gets underway.
Beale initially faced court in July for an incident on the morning before the first Australia-Wales Test match when he and controversial colleague Quade Cooper were refused re-entry at a Brisbane hotel in the early hours of June 8.
The case was adjourned for eight weeks to allow the possibility of mediation between Beale and his alleged victim – a hotel bouncer – but he will now be back in court once more after no satisfactory outcome was achieved.
The Australian Rugby Union postponed their own disciplinary proceedings until the police matter was resolved and that stance looks like continuing until after a verdict is delivered next year.
The ARU are yet to comment on the announcement of the court date.
