Seven players from five Shute Shield clubs have earned the opportunity to impress for higher honours by being named in the NSW Waratahs Super Rugby AUS squad.
This coterie of players is broken down into four forwards and three backs.
The forwards are Brady Dawson (Northern Suburbs), Chlayton Frans (Warringah), Bruce Kauika-Petersen (Hunter Wildfires) and Apolosi Ranawai (Northern Suburbs).
The backs are James McGregor (Eastwood), Lebron Naea (Warringah) and Otto Serfontein (Eastern Suburbs).
The 32-strong Super AUS squad also includes seventeen players on full 2025 NSW Waratahs contracts and eight from the NSW Waratahs Academy Pathways program (down from nine after Liam Glover’s withdrawal with a knee injury saw Naea included).
The decision to extend the selection reach is a deliberate strategy by the NSW Waratahs.
While Super Rugby AUS provides the four Australian Super Rugby franchises with more competition, it is also aimed at developing the depth of players in NSW.
The new competition might also unearth talent that could slip through without the competition providing a platform of exposure for players and the four franchises.
It is an initiative that reinforces the message that while clubs have a vital impact on local rugby, they also play a key role in developing potential professional players.
Selection into the NSW Waratahs Super AUS squad is not only recognition for the players, but also their clubs for developing them thus far; in this instance, Northern Suburbs, Warringah, Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, and the Hunter Wildfires.
NSW Waratahs Head Coach Dan McKellar said: “Their selection is important.
“This is not only for them individually through their efforts and performance in the Shute Shield. They will now get to impress their case for consideration at the next level.
“It also shows that we are looking at club rugby closely and regularly, and that if you perform in that competition, you can earn the opportunity to take a step up.”
Lachlan McCaffrey who will step up from his role as NSW Waratahs Assistant Coach (Defense) to be Head Coach for the duration of Super AUS, concurs with McKellar.
“We watch Shute Shield every weekend and have our eyes across a lot of players.
"Those [seven] who have come in have consistently been high performers,” McCaffrey said.
“This is an opportunity to give them a good opportunity to put their best foot forward.”
McCaffrey said allowing for Shute Shield selections shows the door to Super Rugby is never closed: “It's not … as long as you're playing rugby, you're competing.
“Sometimes players forget what's in their control. It's important players control the 'controlables' and that is: training hard, working hard, trying to get better at your individual skill sets and craft so when the opportunity comes, you can take it.
“A lot of Shute Shield and Academy boys are already putting their hands up for selection for round one. It's an exciting next month of month of footy to come.”
Age: 22
Date of Birth: 19 August 2003
Club: Northern Suburbs
Position: Prop (TH/LH)
Height: 194cm
Weight: 110kg
Age: 23
Date of Birth: 17 March 2002
Club: Warringah
Position: No.8
Height: 191cm
Weight: 105kg
Age: 28
Date of Birth: 16 April 1997
Club: Hunter Wildfires
Position: Hooker
Height: 185cm
Weight: 111kg
Age: 20
Date of Birth: 27 September 2004
Club: Eastwood
Position: Fullback/flyhalf
Height: 172cm
Weight: 78kg
Age: 21
Date of Birth: 29 December 2003
Club: Warringah
Position: Centre
Height: 181cm
Weight: 95kg
Age: 31
Date of Birth: 16 April 1994
Club: Northern Suburbs
Position: Prop (TH)
Height: 185cm
Weight: 135kg
Age: 20
Date of Birth: 27 September 2004
Club: Eastern Suburbs
Position: Centre/wing
Height: 188cm
Weight: 97kg
