The NSW Waratahs have included nine players from last year’s U19s Grand Final winning side in their first Super Rugby Next Gen squad of 2026 against the Western Force at Eric Tweedale Stadium (1.30pm kick-off).
They include try scorers from that day Louis Fenwicke at full back and Zach Fittler at inside centre. In fact, only two players in the squad are over the age of 20.
NSW Waratahs Head of Pathways Andrew Cleverley is hoping for a big performance from the club in the competition, after months of dedicated preparation.
"Players and staff are looking forward to the challenge of the upcoming Next Gen fixtures,” Cleverley said.
“Players have been working extremely hard since the beginning of November, which has led to fantastic gains in the gym and on-field performance measures.
“Now it is time to show that on the field.”
The Waratahs side also includes lock Isaac Fonua and outside centre Leo Jaques, who both featured for our Waratahs senior team’s 49-19 win against the Reds in Brisbane last weekend, with Jaques a full member of our Swftyx Super Rugby Pacific squad.
Scrum-half Angus Grover and replacement hooker Oniti Finau have also been training with the main squad ahead of the start of the season, as did captain Marshall le Maitre and number eight Toby Brial before Christmas.
The new, three-week Super Rugby Next Gen competition will feed into the Australia U20s program, held in February, and will replace the Super Rugby U19s in 2026.
It has been strategically placed to align with the Rugby Championship U20s in April, with the World Rugby U20s to be held in July in Georgia. While the competition is focused on the U20s group, clubs will be permitted to field players over the age of 20 in 2026.
NSW Waratahs v Western Force
Super Rugby Next Gen, Round 1, Saturday 7 February, 1.30pm kick-off AEDT
Eric Tweedale Stadium, 2 Montrose Ave, Merrylands, NSW 2160
Starting XV:
- Nick Hill
- Dylan Simmons
- Edwin Langi
- Aron Brennan
- Isaac Fonua
- Luca Cleverley
- Marshall Le Maitre ©
- Toby Brial
- Angus Grover
- Harrison Dene
- Tom Farr-Jones
- Zach Fittler
- Leo Jaques
- Rory O’Connor
- Louis Fenwicke
Replacements:
16. Oniti Finau
17. Lotu Vunipola
18. Harper Strachan
19. Cooper Green
20. Justice Taumoepeau
21. Sam. Blank
22. James Archer
23. Tom O’Hara
