Credit to Kurtley Beale and Bill Pulver for breaking bread at the annual Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team fundraiser in Sydney on Wednesday.

A few months after the Australian Rugby Union boss made it known he wanted Beale gone from the game based on what he knew about his dealings with former Wallabies business manager Di Patston, the pair were seated across from each other at the head table at the star-studded function at Dockside on Darling Harbour.

An undoubtedly awkward seating arrangement was buffered by a number of other big names, including guest of honour Lloyd McDermott and his wife, Philippa, and Australia's World Cup-winning coaches, Rod Macqueen and Bob Dwyer.

Behind the scenes a recently bitter stand-off is thawing, as both parties circle another table - the negotiating one - to determine Beale's future in the game.

The Breakdown understands Pulver and Beale's agent, Isaac Moses, formally met recently for the first time since last year's dramas, which is a significant stepping stone in the re-signing process, given the history between the parties.

After inking two consecutive one-year deals, 49-Test Beale is keen to secure something longer-term. Waratahs boss Greg Harris, who has to sign his own contract with Beale, described talks with the playmaker and his stablemate, Israel Folau, as "fairly well-advanced" at the unveiling of 2016 NSW coach Daryl Gibson on Thursday.

Between Gibson, Harris and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, all staunch supporters of the controversial No.12, you would think something could be worked out.

But Pulver's meeting with Moses was a crucial step. It is safe to say both parties wish last year's Wallabies dramas had ended differently and are keen to put their differences behind them moving forward.

It was not lost on regular and observant guests at the LMRDT dinner - one of the most entertaining events on the packed rugby calendar - that in that same room just two years ago Pulver had gone to great lengths to praise Beale's contribution to rugby. It was also in 2013 that he - perhaps naively - labelled Beale a "national treasure". That's quite a label for any young man to live up to.

ALL ABOARD THE GRAVY TRAIN 

The Breakdown caught up with Macqueen and Dwyer at the dinner, who revealed they were taking Rugby World Cup organisers up on their offer to fly them over for the tournament knock-out stages as their special guests.

World Rugby, formerly the International Rugby Board, has a standing offer to fly over all winning captains and coaches from the seven previous tournaments. Their respective captains, John Eales (1999) and Nick Farr-Jones (1991), are also invited. Farr-Jones told The Breakdown he would be in England for the entire tournament, while Eales will also be there in a few different roles, including as convenor of the World Rugby Awards dinner on November 1, at which the prestigious player of the year gong is handed out.

Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are the only three countries that have won the Webb Ellis Cup twice. England was the fly in the ointment for the Wallabies in 2003, when they aimed to go back to back on home soil and made it as far as the final. The rest is Jonny Wilkinson's history.

MAKING AMENDS

Also on Wednesday, Bingham Cup president Andrew Purchas handed over a cheque for $6000 by way of thanks to the LMRDT for its support during last year's wildly successful gay rugby world cup in Sydney. Purchas also took the opportunity ot personally thank Waratahs coach Michael Cheika for his club's handling of the homophobic slur controversy of last week.

On that issue, it is also worth noting that Jacques Potgieter turned up un-announced at Convicts training last week. The club issued a well-publicised invitation to their training session through the media last week but never personally contacted the Waratahs back rower.

Potgieter asked Cheika if he could miss a scheduled marketing appearance with his teammates last week and turned up at the training session unheralded, much to the delighted surprise of the club.

McCALMAN NOT LOST TO NSW

There is no end in sight to the provincial arm wrestle over Wallabies No.8 Ben McCalman. Contrary to reports, McCalman has promised the Western Force he will return to Perth after playing in Japan at the end of this year, the Waratahs consider themselves still very much in the hunt for his signature next year.

RAYS KEEP TOWNSEND 

North Harbour Rays have re-appointed Geoff Townsend to lead them through the second season of the NRC. Townsend took over from Phil Blake last year after the latter nabbed a plum defence coach gig with Leicester in the English premiership.