The NSW Waratahs today officially launched a blockbuster roster to lead the charge in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season. Among notable additions are Wallabies Andrew Kellaway, Taniela Tupou, Rob Leota and Isaac Kailea, Darby Lancaster and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
The NSW Waratahs are a new-look outfit, but still include a host of fan favourites who are seasoned campaigners driven by the hunger to leave a major impact on the competition.
The NSW Waratahs are now well into their training and preparation for the 2025 season that starts when they take on the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium in Round 1 on February 14.
All, but those members who are in the Wallabies touring in the United Kingdom, are now well into their second week of official pre-season training at their base in Daceyville, Sydney.
The NSW Waratahs also have a fresh high-performance team under new Head Coach Dan McKellar who has signed on for three years after coaching Leicester Tigers in England. Joining McKellar are Assistant Coaches Mike Catt OBE, Dan Palmer and Lachlan McAffrey.
Catt, OBE and a member of England’s 2003 World Cup winning team, is attack coach; a role he had held with since his retirement as a player at London Irish, England, Italy and Ireland.
Palmer, a former NSW Waratahs player from 2008-2010 who played for the Wallabies in 2012, has worked with McKellar at the ACT Brumbies and Leicester Tigers since retirement and has also coached Australia A. At the NSW Waratahs, he is Assistant Coach for set piece.
McCaffrey, also a former NSW Waratahs player, is the team’s Assistant Coach for defence. Since his transition to coaching, McCaffrey, who was mentored by McKellar at the ACT Brumbies, has garnered experience in diverse playing styles from the UK, Japan and United States. He has also been Assistant Coach at Otago and Head Coach for the Gungahlin Eagles.
One more key addition to the NSW Waratahs is Tom Carter as the Head of Athletic Performance. Another former NSW Waratahs player, Carter’s return to the ‘sky blue’ follows a successful five and a half years in the role with the Australian Women’s Sevens team.
The NSW Waratahs have already shown progress in training at Daceyville. But they know there is still much work and development to be made in the weeks ahead that includes a hit out against the Kubota Spears at Edogawa Stadium in Tokyo on Friday, November 29.
“We’re thrilled to have acquired such a well credentialled and experienced group of people to lead our club forward,” NSW Waratahs Director of High Performance Simon Raiwalui said.
Tickets for Round 1 of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season are on sale now, as are NSW Waratahs Memberships at a variety of levels to accommodate all supporters.
NSW Waratahs supporters have been treated a dream start to the 2025 competition with the side having drawn three of their first four rounds at home in Allianz Stadium.
After facing the Highlanders in Round 1 at Allianz Stadium, the NSW Waratahs have a Bye in Round 2. However, they then stay at home to take on the Fijian Drua in Round 3 on February 28, followed by the Western Force in Round 4 on March 8.
Adrian Brown
Ale Aho
Andrew Kellaway
Angelo Smith
Angus Bell
Archie Saunders
Ben Grant
Brad Amituanai
Charlie Gamble
Clem Halaholo
Daniel Botha
Darby Lancaster
David Porecki
Ethan Dobbins
Fergus Lee-Warner
Henry O'Donnell
Hugh Sinclair
Isaac Kailea
Jack Barrett
Jack Bowen
Jack Grant
Jackson Ropata
Jake Gordon
James Hendren
Joey Walton
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
Julian Heaven
Lalakai Foketi
Langi Gleeson
Lawson Creighton
Leafi Talatiana
Lukas Ripley
Mahe Vailanu
Max Jorgensen
Mesu Kunavula
Miles Amatosero
Rob Leota
Siosifa Amone
Tane Edmed
Taniela Tupou
Teddy Wilson
Thomas Lambert
Triston Reilly
