All Blacks legend and Pau's Brisbane Tens wildcard Carl Hayman says Kurtley Beale's withdrawal is 'a shame' for the competition.
Beale was ruled out of the Brisbane Tens with an elbow injury, less than a day after being named in the Waratahs squad for the tournament.
The 29-year-old is one of the tournament's promotional ambassadors, suffered the injury in training last week and was unable to shake it off in time.
Beale will still travel with the team and fulfil his ambassadorial role but his absence on the field is a blow to the tournament, with many teams already reluctant to bring their top-line stars.
Hayman said it was disappointing to see a draw card like Beale pull out.
"It's important - people want to see stars playing and it's a shame that he's not going to be there," he said.
"The details around that I don't really want to comment on but he's a guy that has been around and played at an international level for a good amount of time
"He brings a bit of wow factor so it's obviously a shame that he's not going to be there."
Brisbane would have been Beale's first run with the Waratahs since he injured his knee playing for the side in 2016, before a stint in England, but that return will have to wait.
“I’m absolutely gutted that I won’t be able to take the field,” Beale said.
“I’ve been looking to this tournament from the moment I re-signed with the Waratahs.
"It was going to be a real highlight of the season, so I’m bitterly disappointed to miss out.”
Beale's Wallabies teammate Samu Kerevi was full of praise for Beale, having played with him during last year's Test season.
"Kurtley is an exceptional player," he said.
"Especially playing with him on the Spring Tour for the first time for myself playing alongside him - he has an exceptional brain and the way he looks at footy.
"You won't see him in the Tens but you will see him at Super Rugby."
Beale will be monitored in the coming days to determine his availability for the Waratahs' final Super Rugby trial against the Rebels on February 15 and round one a week later.
The Waratahs play the Chiefs, Highlanders and French side, Pau in their Brisbane Tens pool matches.
The 2018 Brisbane Tens kicks off on Friday February 9, running until Saturday February 10. Buy tickets here.
