A quintet of young Waratahs who have developed in the club’s Academy pathways programs have been rewarded with selection in the senior squad ahead of the 2026 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific season.
James Hendren, Eamon Doyle, Leo Jaques, Austin Durbidge and Sid Harvey commenced pre-season training with the senior Waratahs squad this week.
Hendren, 22, has been a standout performer for Randwick in the Shute Shield since graduating from the Waratahs’ junior pathways and impressed at fullback as NSW won the inaugural Super Rugby AUS title last month.
Joining him in the Waratahs’ senior squad is Australia U20 captain Doyle, 19-year-old Eastern Suburbs winger Jaques and 20-year-old Sydney University flanker Durbidge, who scored the match-winning try in the Super Rugby AUS Grand Final.
The promotion caps off a stellar year for Narrabri-born Harvey, who was recently named joint winner of the Junior Men’s Player of the Year title at the Rugby Australia Awards.
In 2025 the 20-year-old outside back debuted for the Australian Men’s Sevens side, starred for Australia U20 at the World Rugby U20 Championship and started every game for the Waratahs in Super Rugby AUS.
The Waratahs will join the other ten clubs in confirming their squad for the 2026 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific season this Thursday.
NSW Waratahs Head Coach Dan McKellar said:
“It says a lot about our pathways and talent identification in NSW, that for young players if you want to work hard and perform, there is a pathway to Super Rugby.
“These players have shown that by representing and performing for their clubs and our age group teams, you can earn the right to play at the professional level in NSW.
“(They bring) real enthusiasm. They are young and hungry to get that first opportunity.
“They will also bring their own different skill sets, but collectively they will inject real enthusiasm.”
NSW Waratahs Head of Talent Identification Andrew Cleverley said:
“It’s exciting to see these players progress from the pathways programs into the Waratahs senior squad.
“We are now looking forward to seeing them challenged at a higher level after all the hard work that they've put in since first being recognised as underage representatives.
“They have all had different journeys but this shows it doesn't matter where you're from in New South Wales, if you perform, and put the hard work in, opportunities will come.”
James Hendren
Date of birth: 22 January 2003
Place of birth: Sydney
Junior club: Norths Pirates
Senior club: Randwick
Position: Fullback/Wing
Height 189cm
Weight: 93.5kg
Eamon Doyle
Date of birth: 13 September 2005
Place of birth: Wollongong, NSW
Junior club: Woonona Shamrocks
Senior club: Sydney University
Position: Lock/Backrow
Height: 198cm
Weight: 112kg
Austin Durbidge
Date of birth: 17 September 2005
Place of birth: Sydney
Junior club: Two Blues
Senior club: Sydney University
Position: Flanker
Height: 184cm
Weight: 98kg
Leo Jaques
Date of birth: 5 May 2006
Place of birth: Sydney
Junior club: Easts Junior Beasties
Senior club: Eastern Suburbs
Position: Wing
Height: 192cm
Weight: 97kg
Sid Harvey
Date of birth: 7 October 2005
Place of birth: Narrabri, NSW
Junior club: Narrabri Blue Boars
Senior club: Eastern Suburbs
Position: Fullback/Wing
Height: 190cm
Weight: 91kg
