Wallabies playmaker Kurtley Beale will stand down from rugby indefinitely as he seeks assistance with alcohol-related issues.

After meeting the Melbourne Rebels and the Rugby Union Players’ Association on Monday, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) issued a statement, saying Beale had voluntarily entered a private health facility to undertake counselling.

Beale had initially denied he had a drinking problem when suspended by the Rebels for striking teammates Cooper Vuna and Gareth Delve in South Africa on March 23.

But he was subsequently stood down for last weekend’s 36-32 loss to the Blues in Auckland for breaking the terms of his rehab agreement by drinking the night after his eye-catching return against the Chiefs.

The ARU said any future selection of Beale at a club or national level would be dependent on successful completion of his treatment program.

Beale’s standing down looks to have scuppered any chance the 24-year-old has of taking part in the British and Irish Lions series starting next month.