Beale is irreplaceable at Waratahs - Hooper

1:56 PM GMT

Wasps-bound Kurtley Beale will be impossible to replace at the Waratahs, according to their Super Rugby franchise's captain Michael Hooper.

Beale's move to the Aviva Premiership side was confirmed on Friday with the Wallabies playmaker arriving in time for the start of the 2016-17 campaign. While he is still available for international duty, he leaves a big void at the Waratahs.

"You can't replace Kurtley Beale," Hooper said. "You get something different and that's what we'll be chasing.

"I'm happy for him as an individual. The ability to make those decisions is all part of rugby but, for me selfishly, it's probably disappointing.

"I love playing with Kurtley. I love having him in the environment here in the team but hopefully I'll be able to play with him a lot more in the future."

For Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson, he now faces the task of finding a way to replace Beale.

"Someone of [Beale's] form and standing in the game internationally, it's going to be very difficult [to replace him]," Gibson said. "But I've always seen in my career and in my experience [when] a good player leaves, it's not long until another player emerges and takes an opportunity that's been given."

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Beale is irreplaceable at Waratahs - Hooper