The NSW Waratahs have named a powerful 32-strong Super Rugby AUS squad that boasts an exciting blend of elite, academy, and club players.
From the squad for the four-week competition, seventeen are on full 2025 NSW Waratahs contracts, nine are from the NSW Waratahs Academy Pathway program and six have been chosen from Sydney’s Shute Shield competition.
Dan McKellar, NSW Waratahs Head Coach, will oversee the program; but the Super Rugby AUS Head Coach will be Lachlan McCaffrey, his Assistant Coach (Defence).
Mike Catt (Attack) and Dan Palmer (Set Piece) will continue as Assistant Coaches.
Super Rugby AUS between Australia’s Super Rugby Pacific sides will run from Friday 12 September to Sunday 5 October alongside the Super Rugby Men's U19 competition.
The Super Rugby Men's U16 competition will also run from Saturday 27 September to Sunday 2 November.
Super Rugby AUS, meanwhile, will provide more game time to players not in the Wallabies squad.
It is also an important development initiative for players in the NSW Waratahs Academy and club rugby, as well as for coaches and staff on the four Australian teams.
“Super Rugby AUS is an important platform from which to develop our players, and to create opportunity for those who have also stood out in Shute Shield,” McKellar said.
“However, it is also an opportunity to develop our coaches and staff.”
Captain for Super Rugby AUS is Wallaby lock Matt Philip who returned to Sydney from Japan in July. Vice captains are flyhalf Lawson Creighton and inside centre Joey Walton.
On naming Philip as captain and Creighton and Walton as vice captains, McKellar said: “We want to develop strong leaders and need players to take ownership of this.
“We need younger leaders to step up going into years two and three of the program.”
McCaffrey is excited by the opportunity to step up as the NSW Waratahs Head Coach for the duration of Super Rugby AUS.
“I am grateful for getting the opportunity to head coach here at home - my home state - and hopefully make the Waratahs and boys proud,” McCaffrey said.
On the NSW Waratahs squad selected, McCaffrey said: “Obviously, you pick the best players available who can help us to win a competition at the end of the day.
“But as Super Rugby coaches, part of our job is to watch Shute Shield every weekend.
“We have our eyes across a lot of players, and the six that we have brought in from Shute Shield have consistently been high performers throughout the season.
“We've got a close link with the Academy and young Sydney boys who have left school and are putting their best foot forward in the nineteens, Aussie 20s and our system.
“We’re looking forward to giving them an opportunity to progress to Super Rugby.
“Then you have the full squad [Super Rugby] boys from 2025 who will enjoy the opportunity to play more rugby and create new relationships with new players. “
Jamie Adamson (Eastern Suburbs)
Miles Amatosero (Eastern Suburbs)
Jack Barrett (Randwick)
Daniel Botha (Sydney University)
Brady Dawson (Northern Suburbs)
Ethan Dobbins (Sydney University)
Austin Durbidge (Sydney University)
Oniti Finau (Randwick)
Chlayton Frans (Warringah)
Ben Grant (Sydney University)
Clem Halaholo (Sydney University)
Isaac Kailea (Randwick)
Tom Lambert (Sydney University)
Bruce Kauika-Petersen (Hunter Wildfires)
Matt Philip (©/Sydney University)
Apolosi Ranawai (Northern Suburbs)
Pete Samu (Randwick)
Leafi Talataina (Sydney University)
Lawson Creighton (vc/Randwick)
Joey Fowler (Sydney University)
Liam Grover (Sydney University)
Sid Harvey (Eastern Suburbs)
James Hendren (Randwick)
Leo Jacques (Eastern Suburbs)
Michael McDonald (Randwick)
James McGregor (Eastwood)
Henry O’Donnell (Northern Suburbs)
Jackson Ropata (Warringah)
Otto Serfontein (Eastern Suburbs)
Hwi Sharples (Sydney University)
Joey Walton (vc/Gordon)
Teddy Wilson (Eastern Suburbs)
Sifa Amone (Northern Suburbs)
Jack Bowen (Eastern Suburbs)
Eamon Doyle (Sydney University)
Charlie Gamble (Eastern Suburbs)
Will Goddard (Eastwood)
Triston Reilly (Randwick)
Archie Saunders (Warringah)
Friday 12 September at 7.30pm (Super Rugby AUS)
Saturday 13 September at 10.30am (U19)
Saturday 20 September at 5.45pm (Super Rugby AUS)
Sunday 21 September at 1pm (U19)
Saturday 27 September at 3pm (U19)
Saturday 17 September at 5pm (Super Rugby AUS)
Sunday 5 October
Venue TBC
All games of Super Rugby AUS, Super Rugby U19 and Super Rugby U16 will be broadcast live on Stan Sport and the rugby.com.au YouTube channel.
