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Writer's pictureMark Pickering

NSW Waratahs announce team to play Kubota on Friday

Super Rugby Pacific side NSW Waratahs has announced their team to play former League One champions Kubota Spears at Spears Edoriku Field in Funabashi on Friday.

Ex-Leicester Tigers head coach Dan McKellar, who had a stint as a forwards coach for NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Osaka in 2013, leads his Australian side for the first time having been appointed in July on a three-year deal.

The NSW Waratahs revealed their 25-strong matchday squad on Tuesday with back-rower Charlie Gamble and second rower Hugh Sinclair named as joint captains.

Super Rugby Pacific’s basement outfit from last season are five weeks into their pre-season in Sydney and have opted for a mix of youth and experience to face Frans Ludeke’s star-studded 2023 League One winners.  

Academy graduates such as back-rower Eamon Doyle and fly-half Joey Fowler are included in the squad along with highly-rated young flanker Leafi Talataina and promising wing Archie Saunders who caught the eye for Australia in the summer at the World Rugby U20 Championship.

McKellar said: "It's about the transfer of areas of our game we've worked on in training into a match; while also understanding that we haven't worked on everything yet.

“We’ve only been going for five weeks; but this is a great opportunity to gauge where we are at this point of our pre-season preparation.”

The Australian side fly to Tokyo on Wednesday morning and will return to home on Sunday morning.

McKellar’s team kick-off their 2025 Super Rugby Pacific campaign at home on Friday, February 14 against the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium.

Kubota, who have been dealt a major blow by the departure of Welshman Liam Williams just four weeks before the new season starts, are yet to name their squad.


RugbyJP.com will be on-site to cover the game.

NSW Waratahs squad to play Kubota Spears: Forwards: 

Jamie Adamson, Brad Amituanai, Sifa Amone, Adrian Brown, Ethan Dobbins, Eamon Doyle, Charlie Gamble ©, Clem Halaholo, Julian Heaven. Mesu Kunavalu, Tom Lambert, Fergus Lee-Warner, Hugh Sinclair ©, Leafi Talataina

Backs: 

Jack Bowen, Nick Chan, Joey Fowler, Jack Grant, James Hendren, Triston Reilly, Lukas Ripley, Jackson Ropata, Archie Saunders, Joe Walton, Teddy Wilson 


Picture courtesy of NSW Waratahs

 

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