The NSW Waratahs will take on rivals the Reds and the Brumbies away from home for their trial matches in 2026 ahead of the Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific season.
NSW will travel to Brisbane to take on the Reds at Ballymore Stadium in their first pre-season match on Saturday 31 January (3pm kick-off AEDT), with the two teams then facing off in Round 1 of Super Rugby Pacific on Friday 13 February at Allianz Stadium.
The Waratahs will also take on the Brumbies at Marist College in Canberra on Thursday 5 February (1.30pm kick-off AEDT), eight days ahead of the season opener.
Head coach Dan McKellar believes the two fixtures offer the ideal preparation for the 2026 campaign.
“Travelling to Brisbane and Canberra is a great opportunity to test ourselves as we gear up for Super Rugby Pacific in 2026,” McKellar said.
“During pre-season, we’re facing the best two Australian Super Rugby franchises over the past few years, who will again be strong next season.
“We’ve had a good pre-season so far, the playing group has really applied themselves and worked extremely hard to get to where we want them to be.
“These two matches will give us a big target to aim at when we return from the Christmas break in January.”
The fixtures may offer the chance for new signings Angus Blyth (formerly of the Reds), Folau Fainga’a and Pete Samu (both former Brumbies) to face their old clubs for the first time. While the Waratahs have also signed other capped Wallabies in the off-season in the shape of Matt Phillip and Harry Potter.
Five players have graduated to the senior squad from the Academy for the 2026 season; James Hendren, Eamon Doyle, Leo Jaques, Austin Durbidge and Sid Harvey, all who made an impact for NSW in their Super Rugby AUS campaign.
The Waratahs head into the Super Rugby season having finished eighth in the table in 2025, just missing out on a finals berth, before winning the inaugural Super Rugby AUS title, beating the Western Force 33-26 at Wanneroo Rugby Union Club in the final in October.
You can sign up to be a 2026 Waratahs member here.
2026 trial fixtures: NSW Waratahs
- Queensland Reds vs NSW Waratahs, Ballymore Stadium, Saturday 31 January (3pm kick-off AEDT)
- ACT Brumbies vs NSW Waratahs – Marist College, Thursday 5 February (1.30pm kick-off AEDT)
