Kurtley Beale's hopes of facing the British and Irish Lions in June have taken a blow. The Rebels five-eighths is to miss up to a month of Super 15 with a fracture on his left hand.
Beale is already carrying a shoulder complaint which will require surgery at the end of the season. But he'll go under the knife today after scans yesterday revealed a fracture in his third metacarpal which will keep him out for weeks. The Wallabies star was injured in the Rebels' bonus-point loss to the Waratahs on Friday.
Beale joins a long injury list at Melbourne including Cooper Vuna, Gareth Delve, Chris Thomson and Jason Woodward.
Melbourne, with a 1-2 to start the season, want a victory when they face the Reds on Friday night at AAMI Park.
- AAP
