The NSW Waratahs are pleased to announce the signing of exciting winger Darby Lancaster for the 2025 season.
Lancaster’s acquisition is a homecoming or sorts, given that he grew up in Kempsey on the Mid-North Coast region of NSW and played his junior rugby for the Kempsey Cannonballs, the same junior club as future teammate Triston Reilly.
The 21-year-old came through the Australian Rugby Sevens pathway and emerged as a breakout star during the 2022/23 HSBC Sevens World Series.
Lancaster then proved he could match it with the best in the longer format of the game with an excellent campaign for the Junior Wallabies in the U20 World Championship.
Signed by the Melbourne Rebels, Lancaster made his Super Rugby debut in 2024, with his attacking prowess and finishing ability highlighted with a hat-trick against the Highlanders.
With a bright future ahead of him, Lancaster was selected by Wallabies Coach Joe Schmidt for the July Series as one of 13 uncapped players, making his Test debut on the wing against Georgia and becoming Wallaby #980.
NSW Waratahs Director of Performance, Simon Raiwalui, is thrilled to have secured the services of one of Australia’s most promising outside backs.
“We’re thrilled to have Darby joining the Waratahs,” Raiwalui said.
“Darby is a product of NSW and is happy to be returning to his home state. He’s a player who’s blessed with tremendous speed and evasive skills and his best years are in front of him.
“After a promising debut season in the Super Rugby this year, I’m excited to see the quality that Darby will bring to our backline in 2025.”
Lancaster is thrilled to be returning to his home state and is looking forward to progressing his career in the sky blue jersey.
“I’m really excited to be joining the Waratahs and coming back to NSW,” Lancaster said.
“The Waratahs are a proud club with a rich history and I’m looking forward to being a part of it.
“Growing up in Kempsey, I supported the Waratahs as a kid so I can’t wait to run out onto Allianz Stadium in the sky blue jersey.
“It will be great to be a part of a backline in 2025 that includes players such as Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, and Joseph Suaali'i.”
Darby Lancaster
- Australian Rugby Sevens – 2022
- Australian U20s – 2023
- Melbourne Rebels – 2024
- Australia - 2024
