Beale sidelined from S15

Sydney - Wallaby back Kurtley Beale has been ruled out of Super Rugby for up to a month with a fractured hand, his Melbourne Rebels team said on Monday.

The Rebels fly-half is expected to undergo surgery after scans on Monday revealed a fracture to his left hand that will keep him out for three to four weeks, a team spokesman said.

Beale was already playing in the Super Rugby with an injured left shoulder, which is likely to require surgery at the end of the domestic season that includes a three-Test series against the touring British and Irish Lions.

He suffered the latest injury in the Rebels' bonus-point loss to Waratahs on Friday.

Beale said he would use the time off to work on his troublesome shoulder.

"I will try and focus on getting the shoulder right and get that back to full strength," Beale said.

"I need to do a lot of strengthening work around the rotator cuff so hopefully the time out will give me the opportunity."