Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps rejoin Super Rugby’s Waratahs

Former Kubota Spears fly-half Bernard Foley and ex-NEC Green Rockets scrum-half Nick Phipps have returned to the Waratahs, 12 years after leading the Australian club to its maiden Super Rugby title.

Foley, 36, left Kubota Spears in the summer after seven seasons with the Funabashi-based side. He graced three League One finals and led Frans Ludeke’s team to title glory in 2023.

The Sydney native, who spent a year with Black Rams Tokyo in the Top League from 2015-2016, made 88 appearances for Kubota, scoring 917 points. Foley signed off as the top points scorer in Japan Rugby League One history, losing his last outing in this year's final against Dave Rennie's Kobe Steelers.

Phipps, 37, spent four years with NEC Green Rockets who rebranded as JR East Green Warriors Tokatsu in July after NEC transferred the ownership of the division two side.

The former London Irish man played 36 games for the Chiba-based side.

© JRLO

Former Wallabies teammates Foley and Phipps, who last played against each other when Kubota beat NEC 40-7 in 2023, return to Super Rugby where they made they respective debuts for the Waratahs and the Rebels in 2011.

Foley, the club’s leading points scorer (1,092), is looking forward to his homecoming in the 2027 Super Rugby campaign.

“I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to rejoin the Waratahs for 2027.

“I feel very lucky to have the chance to finish back at the club where it all started.

“I can’t wait to meet the playing group and everyone involved and get to work.”

Phipps said the opportunity to return to his homeland was too good to turn down.

“I’m super excited to be back home at the Waratahs.

“The chance to return and give something back to the club and the players is an opportunity I simply couldn’t pass up.

“I’ve had so many great memories at the Waratahs and I want to be a part of another team making their own great memories.”

Waratahs Director of High Performance B-J Mather said:“What has been clear in my conversations with Bernard and Nick is their hunger to contribute and their desire to help drive our team forward.

“They have a deep understanding of what it means to represent the Waratahs and they know what it takes to build a winning environment.

“They’re both outstanding professionals who were there for one of the most memorable chapters in our club’s history and we’re excited to welcome them back to help shape the next one.”