While Waratahs Women’s coach Mike Ruthven plots the course to another championship in 2026, his son Wilson is carving out his own path at Daceyville as flyhalf for the ever-dominant Waratahs U16 side.
Born in Manly and raised in the Upper Hunter Region, Wilson was immersed in rugby from the outset.
“Growing up in Scone I lived right across the road from the footy fields, so most afternoons I’d be out there kicking a ball around with my dad or my mates,” Wilson said.
“That’s where my love for rugby really started and that field holds all my early memories.”
Rugby runs in the veins of the Ruthven family with Mike a former Warringah and Randwick player who later turned his hand to coaching, following in the footsteps of his own father.
It didn’t take long for Wilson to pull on the green of the Scone Thoroughbreds in Under-6s, with Mike coaching from the sideline.
“Dad and my grandfather were both involved in rugby their whole lives, so it just became a part of what I did growing up,” Wilson said.
“It wasn’t just about the sport — it was about the community around it.”
With the family relocating to Sydney when he was nine years old, Wilson is now a Year Ten student at St Augustine’s College and has been working his way through the Waratahs junior development pathways.
“Every step through the Academy has been a challenge but also a privilege. The older you get, the more you realise how many kids would love to be in your spot,” Wilson said.
“The Waratahs pathway feels like a family. The coaches really care and you feel like they’re preparing you not just for rugby, but for life.
“Dad’s definitely my biggest inspiration. He always tells me, ‘work hard and you’ll get the results.’ It’s a mindset he believes in and something he encourages me to adopt with the opportunities I’ve got now.”
Wilson has already had a fair taste of the intensity that comes with pulling on the Waratahs jersey, and in particular recalls a showdown against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane last year.
“Getting on the plane with the boys, travelling up north and playing in that rivalry - it just felt surreal,” Wilson said.
“It made me realise this is the pathway, and I want to keep chasing it.
“The dream is definitely to wear Wallaby gold one day. That’s what drives me every session.
“But Super Rugby with the Waratahs is the first big step.”
NSW Waratahs U16 vs Western Force U16
Where: Warringah Rugby Club
When: Sunday, 5 October 2025
Kick-off: 11.45 am (AEDT)
The game will be broadcast LIVE and on demand on Stan Sport and the rugby.com.au YouTube channel
