NSW Waratahs

The New South Wales Waratahs, known as the NSW Waratahs or simply the Waratahs, is a rugby union club based in Sydney, Australia, which competes in Super Rugby Pacific. The team plays its home matches at the Allianz Stadium; its traditional home colours are light blue and dark blue.

📜 Waratahs History

The first competitive match played by a team representing the whole of the state of New South Wales took place in 1882. For much of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, however, matches by this representative side were played only irregularly, particularly as rugby league became increasingly beloved in the state.

The present-day Waratahs franchise was founded in 1996, prior to that year's inaugural Super 12 season. The new club took its moniker from the nickname for historic New South Wales sides, themselves named after the state flower, which is also depicted on the team's crest. In its debut season, the club finished sixth.

The Waratahs reached the play-offs for the first time in 2002, losing to the Brumbies at the semifinal stage. The club then reached its first grand final in 2005, losing to the Crusaders. History would repeat itself 3 years later, with the Sydney side again reaching the final, but again being defeated by the team from Canterbury.

It would however be third time lucky for the Waratahs in 2014: after finishing the campaign at the top of the table, the club defeated the Brumbies in the semifinals to set-up another grand final against the Crusaders, and one which would end in victory rather than defeat. With home advantage and a strong regular season campaign behind them, the New South Wales club won 33-32, a last-minute Bernard Foley penalty snatching the win, and the club's first Super Rugby title.