The 2025 New South Wales Waratahs season was their 29th and most recent season in the Super Rugby since entering the professional era in 1996. Although the pre-season began in 2024 with a tour to Japan, the domestic season began in February 2025 and finished in May, before playing a one-off home fixture against the touring British & Irish Lions in July 2025.
In June 2025 it was announced by Rugby Australia (RA) that a new domestic competition, Super Rugby AUS, would be begin in September 2025. The new competition would only consist of the four Australian Super Rugby franchises: the ACT Brumbies, New South Wales Waratahs, Queensland Reds, and the Western Force, and would largely be in place to support a professional pathway from amateur rugby to professional rugby, as well as non-international Australian players post-Super Rugby season.
Squad and personnel + “Who should be the next Waratahs coach?”The Sydney Morning Herald readers' poll (21–30 May 2024) Candidate Michael Cheika John Manenti Simon Raiwalui Stephen HoilesOther Nathan Grey Jason Gilmore
Coaching personnel In May 2024 the New South Wales Rugby Union (NSWRU) confirmed that New South Wales Waratahs head coach since 2021, Darren Coleman, would be released at the conclusion of the 2024 season. At the time of the announcement Coleman's injury-plagued Waratahs had won just two matches from twelve, and sat bottom of the ladder. At the end of the 2023 season the Waratahs had finished sixth on the seasonal ladder, as they did the previous season, and were knocked out of the Finals in the Quarter-finals stage. Coleman stated to The Sydney Morning Herald immediately following the season that although he loved the job, he did not feel great, stating: “I firmly believe we are trending in the right way... We haven't spoken about an extension, and nor would I expect them to come to me, given the season we just had. I'll keep my head down, work hard, get results next year and hopefully stay on if they want me. If not, I get it, you’ve got to win and win championships to keep the job.” When Coleman was announced as the new head coach on a three-year deal in July 2021 he was reported to be one of four final candidates vying for the position, which included Australia women's sevens coach John Manenti; Western Force assistant and former Fiji head coach John McKee; and Cardiff head coach John Mulvihill. Under Coleman's tenure (2022–2024) the Waratahs obtained a 36% win ratio.
Following the announcement that Coleman's contract would not be extended, The Sydney Morning Herald cited Michael Cheika, Nathan Grey, Stephen Hoiles and John Manenti as potential front-runners for the role, and published an article focused specifically on National Rugby League-linked, former Waratahs coach Michael Cheika. Later that same day (21 May 2024), the same publication gave readers a poll of six candidates, asking: “Who should be the next Waratahs coach?” Michael Cheika was polled the highest at 39%, with almost 4,000 votes cast. The following month they published an article discussing four candidates with high-level experience: Nathan Grey, Andy Friend, Michael Cheika and Kevin Foote. In late June, following expressions of interest from the Waratahs, former Australia and England attack coach Scott Wisemantel was put forward as a potential candidate, according to confidential sources. Finally on 3 July 2024 it was confirmed that the new coach of the Waratahs was Dan McKellar. McKellar signed on a three-year deal, and was immediately considered the front-runner for the job upon news of his sacking and replacement for Michael Cheika as head coach of English club Leicester Tigers just two weeks earlier. McKellar was joined by former Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui as Director of Performance alongside England international veteran and former Ireland attack coach Mike Catt. All three would serve as part of the teams high-performance staff.
+ Coaching personnel Position Coach Head coach Dan McKellar Assistant coach Attack coach Mike Catt Set Piece coach Dan Palmer Defence coach Lachlan McCaffrey Director of Performance Simon Raiwalui
Squad After a very active off-season with transfers, the Waratahs announced their pre-season squad to tour Japan in November 2024 with new coach Dan McKellar. The squad included a sizeable youth contingent and various new signings. Only one player was signed in 2025, with the earliest signing for the 2025 season being "dual code" international Joseph Sua'ali'i in March 2023.
The Waratahs' squad for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season was announced on 12 November 2024.
Senior squad Waratahs senior squadProps Isaac Aedo Kailea Brad Amituanai Siosifa Amone Jack Barrett Angus Bell Daniel Botha Adrian Brown Tom Lambert Taniela Tupou
Hookers Ethan Dobbins Julian Heaven Dave Porecki Mahe Vailanu
Locks Ale Aho Miles Amatosero Ben Grant Clem Halaholo Felix Kalapu Mesu Kunavula Hugh Sinclair Angelo SmithLoose forwards Jamie Adamson Charlie Gamble Langi Gleeson Fergus Lee-Warner Rob Leota Leafi TalatainaDEV
Scrum-halves Jake Gordon Jack Grant Teddy Wilson
Fly-halves Jack Bowen Lawson Creighton Tane EdmedCentres Lalakai Foketi Henry O'Donnell Joseph Sua'ali'i Joey Walton
Outside backs James Hendren Max Jorgensen Andrew Kellaway Darby Lancaster Triston Reilly (cc) denotes team co-captains, Bold denotes internationally capped, DEV denotes a development/academy squad squad player, ST denotes a short-term signing, denotes a player ruled out for the season with injury.
Academy squad Waratahs academy squadProps Will Goddard Nate Tiitii
Hookers Bryn Edwards Oniti Finau
Locks Eamon Doyle Aden EkanayakeLoose forwards Ben Di Staso Austin Durbidge
Scrum-halves Billy Dickens Hwi Sharples
Fly-halves Joe DillonCentres Zach Fittler Jackson Ropata
Outside backs Archie Saunders Bold denotes internationally capped at youth level.
Transfers
In Date Player From 25 March 2023 Outside back Joseph Sua'ali'i Sydney Roosters (NRL) 20 June 2024 Outside back Andrew Kellaway Melbourne Rebels July 2024 Prop Taniela Tupou Melbourne Rebels 30 July 2024 Outside back Darby Lancaster Melbourne Rebels 31 July 2024 Flanker Rob Leota Melbourne Rebels 21 August 2024 Prop Isaac Aedo Kailea Melbourne Rebels September 2024 Prop Siosifa Amone Western Force Centre Henry O'Donnell Western Force Lock Angelo Smith Melbourne Rebels Lock Ben Grant Hurricanes Hooker Ethan Dobbins Melbourne Rebels Flanker Leafi Talataina Sydney University 9 September 2024 Fly-half Lawson Creighton Queensland Reds 25 September 2024 Centre Zach Fittler Free agent 2024 Lock Ale Aho Otago Prop Adrian Brown Warringah Outside back James Hendren Randwick Lock Clem Halaholo Sydney University 11 January 2025 Flanker Jamie Adamson Easts
Out Date Player To November 2023 Flanker Lachlan Swinton Bordeaux Bègles 6 December 2023 Outside back Mark Nawaqanitawase Sydney Roosters (NRL) 21 March 2024 Centre Izaia Perese Leicester Tigers 2 May 2024 Centre Harry Wilson Dragons 6 May 2024 Centre Mosese Tuipulotu Edinburgh 16 May 2024 Flanker Ned Hanigan Provence 13 June 2024 Prop Tom Ross Stade Niçois 15 July 2024 Prop Harry Johnson-Holmes Western Force July 2024 Lock Ollie McCrea Stade Français July 2024 Fly-half Will Harrison Hanazono Kintetsu Liners 29 August 2024 Outside back Vuate Karawalevu Fijian Drua 4 September 2024 Prop Archer Holz Scarlets 5 September 2024 Prop Enrique Pieretto Provence 13 September 2024 Outside back Dylan Pietsch Western Force Prop Pone Fa'amausili Moana Pasifika Prop Hayden Thompson-Stringer Provence 26 November 2024 Lock Jed Holloway Leicester Tigers 27 November 2024 Hooker Ben Sugars Los Angeles 17 December 2024 Prop Michael Scott Houston SaberCats 2024 Prop Paddy Ryan Prop Harry Lloyd
Season results Pre-season
+ 2025 Pre-season results Date Venue Team Score Result (Margin) Edogawa Stadium, Edogawa, Tokyo (Japan) Kubota Spears43–17Won (26 points) Eric Tweedale Stadium, Merrylands, New South Wales 73–7Won (66 points) Bowral Rugby Club, Burradoo, New South Wales ACT Brumbies36–36Draw
Summary and fixtures
+ 2025 Super Rugby season Date Venue Team Score Result (Margin) Attendance 1 Friday, 14 February Sydney Football Stadium, Moore Park (Sydney) Highlanders37–36Won (1 point) 16,034 5th2align=center colspan=6 6thalign=center 3 Friday, 28 February Sydney Football Stadium, Moore Park (Sydney) Fijian Drua29–24Won (5 points) 16,150 5th4 Saturday, 8 March Sydney Football Stadium, Moore Park (Sydney) Western Force34–10Won (24 points) 11,000 2nd5 Saturday, 15 March Lang Park, Milton (Brisbane) Queensland Reds15–35Lost (20 points) 20,072 5th6 Saturday, 22 March Sydney Football Stadium, Moore Park (Sydney) ACT Brumbies28–23Won (5 points) 20,572 4th7 Friday, 28 March Wellington Regional Stadium, Pipitea (Wellington) Hurricanes12–57Lost (45 points) 9,202 5th8 Saturday, 5 April North Harbour Stadium, Albany (Auckland) Moana Pasifika28–45Lost (17 points)align=center 6th9 Friday, 11 April Sydney Football Stadium, Moore Park (Sydney) Chiefs21–14Won (7 points) 14,278 5th10 Saturday, 19 April Churchill Park, Lautoka Fijian Drua14–28Lost (14 points)align=center 6th11align=center colspan=6 7th12 Saturday, 3 May Canberra Stadium, Bruce (Canberra) ACT Brumbies17–40Lost (23 points) 9,183 9th13 Friday, 9 May Sydney Football Stadium, Moore Park (Sydney) Queensland Reds21–28Lost (7 points) 18,945 8th14 Friday, 16 May Sydney Football Stadium, Moore Park (Sydney) Crusaders33–48Lost (15 points) 11,284 8th15 Saturday, 24 May Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth Western Force22–17Won (5 points) 5,165 8th16 Saturday, 31 May Eden Park, Kingsland (Auckland) Blues6–46Lost (40 points)align=center 8th
Ladder
British & Irish Lions tour
+ 2025 British & Irish Lions tour Date Venue Team Score Result (Margin) Saturday, 5 July Sydney Football Stadium, Moore Park (Sydney) 10–21Lost (11 points)
Super Rugby AUS Summary and fixtures
+ 2025 Super Rugby AUS Date Venue Team Score Result (Margin) 1 Saturday, 13 September Pittwater Park, Warriewood 3–24Lost (21 points) 4th2 Saturday, 20 September Dangar Park, Narrabri 47–19Won (28 points) 2nd3 Saturday, 27 September Viking Park, Wanniassa (Canberra) 42–34Won (8 points) 2nd Finals seriesGF Sunday, 5 October Kingsway Regional Sporting Complex, Wanneroo 33–26Won (7 points)
Ladder
Statistics ; Figures do not include pre-season trials, the post-season Lions tour, or the 2025 Super Rugby AUS.
+ Top point-scorers Player Position Points 1 Tane Edmed Fly-half 0 16 3 0 41 2 Lawson Creighton Fly-half 1 14 1 0 36 3 Triston Reilly Outside back 7 0 0 0 35 Langi Gleeson Flanker 7 0 0 0 35 5 Darby Lancaster Outside back 4 0 0 0 20 6 Teddy Wilson Scrum-half 3 0 0 0 15 Max Jorgensen Wing 3 0 0 0 15 Rob Leota Flanker 3 0 0 0 15 Andrew Kellaway Outside back 3 0 0 0 15 10 Jack Bowen Fly-half 0 2 3 0 13 11 Siosifa Amone Prop 2 0 0 0 10 Dave Porecki Hooker 2 0 0 0 10 Joseph Sua'ali'i Centre / Outside back 2 0 0 0 10 14 Penalty try 7 15 Julian Heaven Hooker 1 0 0 0 5 Archie Saunders Outside back 1 0 0 0 5 Joey Walton Centre 1 0 0 0 5 Jake Gordon Scrum-half 1 0 0 0 5 Henry O'Donnell Centre 1 0 0 0 5 Taniela Tupou Prop 1 0 0 0 5 Felix Kalapu Lock 1 0 0 0 5 Miles Amatosero Lock 1 0 0 0 5
+ Top try-scorers Player Position Tries 1 Triston Reilly Outside back 7 Langi Gleeson Flanker 3 Darby Lancaster Outside back 4 4 Max Jorgensen Outside back 3 Teddy Wilson Scrum-half Rob Leota Flanker Andrew Kellaway Outside back 8 Joseph Sua'ali'i Centre / Outside back 2 Siosifa Amone Prop Dave Porecki Hooker 11 Joey Walton Centre 1 Felix Kalapu Lock Miles Amatosero Lock Archie Saunders Outside back Jake Gordon Scrum-half Henry O'Donnell Centre Taniela Tupou Prop Lawson Creighton Fly-half Julian Heaven Hooker Penalty try
Notes
References
External links Waratahs Official website Australia Super Rugby website SANZAR website