Kurtley Beale has opened up about the "terrible lows" he endured amid fears he would never play for the Wallabies again.
Beale has been cleared to return from suspension after being fined $45,000 for sending an offensive photograph to then-ARU employee Di Patston in June.
It's believed the ARU was set to terminate Beale's contract but he escaped a harsher punishment after a second and more offensive text was discovered to have been sent by somebody else.
He was found not guilty of a more serious charge of misconduct and, despite new coach Michael Cheika opting not to send for the playmaker and have him on the European tour, Beale is mightily relieved that the whole ordeal is behind him.
"I have had some terrible lows in recent weeks, and been really down, but I feel I'm coming out of it now," Beale told News Corp.
"It was a devastating time for me and I wondered if I would ever wear the Wallabies jersey again.
"But I just kept saying to myself the truth will win out in the end."
While disappointed with the fine, Beale feels "vindicated because I never told anything but the truth".
"That's why I fought so hard to clear my name. I would have taken this as far as I had to prove to everyone that I have been honest throughout the entire process.
"I did the wrong thing with the only text message I sent. It was stupid and offensive but I was the first to look her in the eye and say I was genuinely really, really sorry.
"I always said I did not send the second one and the tribunal agreed it was not from my phone.
"I apologised to Di back in June, we hugged and cried over it and that's why I was so surprised when it became a big issue again. She and I agreed the case was closed and Ewen McKenzie was made aware of it."
A massive supporter of Beale, Cheika said it was important that his NSW Waratahs charge returns to the physical and mental state required to play Test rugby before rushing him back to the Wallabies fold.
"Now I want to concentrate on getting my fitness back and being part of the Wallabies campaign leading up to the World Cup," Beale said.
"I miss playing with my best mates and can't wait to play under Michael Cheika with the Australian team."
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