New South Wales Waratahs Women
Rugby team
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The New South Wales Waratahs Women are an Australian rugby union team that represents New South Wales in the Super Rugby Women's competition. They are the most successful team so far, having won five titles.
| Union | Rugby Australia New South Wales Rugby Union | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2017 | ||
| Location | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| Region | New South Wales | ||
| Coach | Michael Ruthven | ||
| Captain | Piper Duck | ||
| League | Super W | ||
| 2025 | Champions (6th title) | ||
| |||
| Official website | |||
| waratahs | |||
History
Super W announced
In 2017, Rugby Australia announced that a national women's rugby competition would commence in March 2018, with the New South Wales Waratahs to have a women's team.[1][2] The announcement was made on the same day that Rugby Australia outlined its intentions to bid for the 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup.[2][3]
Inaugural season champions
The Waratahs Women were hosted by the Queensland Reds Women at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane for the season's opener. It was a double header with the Super Rugby match between the Queensland Reds and the Bulls.[4]
On 20 April 2018, the women's New South Wales Waratahs made history by winning the first season of women's 15-a-side rugby, with captain Ashleigh Hewson kicking the winning penalty goal in the ninety-second minute. New South Wales Waratahs Women's were victorious over the Queensland Reds 16–13 at Stadium Australia.[5][6]
2024
The Waratahs Women went undefeated throughout the entire season before beating the Fijian Drua in the final to win their fifth Super Rugby title.[7][8] Desiree Miller (rugby union) scored a hat-trick and Maya Stewart scored a double in their sides first title win since 2021.[8][9]
Current squad
On 29 January 2025, the squad for the 2025 Super Rugby Women's season was announced.[10][11]
| Waratahs Super W squad | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Props
Hookers
Locks
|
Loose Forwards Scrum-halves
Fly-halves |
Centres
Outside Backs
|
| (c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped and ST indicated short-term cover. | ||
Season standings
| Year | Position | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | BP | Pts | Play-offs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1st | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 115 | 81 | +34 | 3 | 15 | Defeated Reds in final |
| 2024 | 1st | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 224 | 88 | +136 | 4 | 24 | Defeated Fijiana Drua in final |
| 2023 | 1st | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 158 | 48 | +110 | 0 | 24 | Defeated by Fijiana Drua in Semi-final |
| 2022 | 2nd | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 185 | 70 | +115 | 4 | 20 | Defeated by Fijiana Drua in final |
| 2021 | 1st (Pool A) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 97 | 64 | +33 | 2 | 10 | Defeated Reds in final |
| 2020 | 1st | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 131 | 21 | +110 | 3 | 19 | Playoffs cancelled due to COVID-19 |
| 2019 | 1st | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 138 | 24 | +114 | 3 | 19 | Defeated Reds in final |
| 2018 | 1st | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 131 | 15 | +116 | 2 | 18 | Defeated Reds in final |
Coaching staff
- Head Coach: Michael Ruthven
- Assistant Coach: Sam Needs
- Assistant Coach: Shaun McCreedy