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Three-time NRL premiership winner Angus Crichton headlines NSW stars Waratahs composition for next year Super Rugby Pacific season, with returners Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps among the 13 Wallabies named.
Crichton helped the Sydney Roosters win the NRL Grand Final earlier this month and new Waratah coach Michel Cheika is also involved. Cheika was part of the Tricolours’ coaching staff and is now overseeing Lebanon’s Rugby World Cup campaign.
Former State of Origin star Crichton will help lead the Waratahs into a new era under Cheika, along with some other big name additions to the roster. Foley and Phipps are two other notable inclusions, with the 2014 Super Rugby winners adding invaluable experience.
Wallabies forward Angus Bell will also return to Cambridge blue next season, having spent the 2025/26 URC campaign with Ireland’s Ulster. Club rugby standouts George Francis and Otto Serfontein will also be involved with the Tahs in 2027.
The Tahs have also turned to a host of young prospects, with prop Edwin Langi, loose forwards Isaac Fonu and Marshall Le Maitre, scrum-half Angus Grover and playmaker Joey Fowler named in the Super Rugby Pacific squad for the first time.
“We are very pleased with the overall shape of the Waratahs squad for 2027,” Cheika said.
“We have a good balance of player types in many areas and will definitely add or strengthen in others.
“Angus (Bell) is obviously a player at international level and guys like that are a big part of how Super Rugby teams play. We’re keen to get him playing at his peak and in the best form of his career for the Waratahs to give him a platform to play until the end of 2027.
“I am very much looking forward to the other Angus (Crichton) coming to rugby union. I had the pleasure of coaching him recently at the Roosters and I have no doubt he will make a successful return to rugby.”
“I’ve been very impressed with the younger generation playing in Super Rugby AUS. As a former back-rower, I particularly enjoyed Isaac (Fonua) and the way he carried himself, and I’m also very interested in the profile of a player like Marshall (Le Maitre), a forward who has lightning-fast back speed.
“We are looking forward to our international players participating in the tournament Nations Championship in November and welcome them back to the squad in January for pre-season.”
Max Burey has moved on from Westerns Force at the Tahs ahead of the Super Rugby AUS season, with an impressive half-half during New South Wales’ run to the Grand Final. Joseph-Aukuso Suaali, Max Jorgensen, Teddy Wilson and Sid Harvey are among the other defenders named.
2027 NSW WARATAHS SQUAD
Forward
Miles Amatosero
Jack Barrett
Angus Bell
Day of Botha
Ethan Dobbins
Eamon Doyle
Easy sailing
Isaac Fonua
George Francis
Clem Halaholo
Isaac Kailea
Sefo Koutai
Edwin Lange
Marshall Master
Matt Philip
Poloniates of Veikos
Apollos Ranawai
Luke Reimer
Pete Sam
Angus Scott-Young
The back
Max Burey
Angus Crichton
Bernard Foley
Joey Fowler
Jake Gordon
Angus Grover
Sid Harvey
James Hendren
Max Jorgensen
Henry O’Donnell
Nick Phipps
George Poolman
Harry Potter
Otto Serfontein
Joseph-August Sualii
Teddy Wilson
