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The NSW Waratahs have confirmed that former Brumbies head coach and Wallabies assistant Dan McKellar will take their head coach role on a three-year deal.
McKellar recently left English club side Leicester. The Roar revealed earlier this week that he was heading to Tahs.
McKellar led the Brumbies to the Super Rugby AU title in 2020. He will start at the Tahs in September but is already working on helping shore up the roster for next season in the wake of big name departures and the folding of the Rebels.
In recent weeks McKellar has stepped up his recruitment drive, checking in on who is available and a free agent.
His first priority will be ensuring he has a tight-five who can compete in Super Rugby, with Taniela Tupou reluctantly set to move to Sydney.
Whether he can convince Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Rob Leota to reconsider their desire to move to Queensland remains to be seen.
Locking down the likes of emerging halves Tane Edmed and Teddy Wilson will also be crucial.
“We’re delighted to have a Head Coach of Dan McKellar’s calibre joining the Waratahs,” CEO Paul Doorn said in a statement.
(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
“Dan has an impressive coaching resume and achieved great success with the ACT Brumbies in the Super Rugby during his five-year tenure.
“Dan will work closely with High Performance Director Simon Raiwalui, and their partnership marks an exciting new frontier for the Waratahs.
“I am confident that the appointments of Dan and Simon will put the Waratahs on the path to delivering sustained success from 2025 and beyond.”
After playing over 150 premier grade games for Souths Rugby Club in Brisbane, McKellar transferred into the club’s coaching ranks.
He then moved to Canberra in 2011 to take up the position of Coaching Director and Head Coach of the Tuggeranong Vikings, winning back-to-back premierships in the John I Dent Cup in 2011-12.
Following a stint in Japan as Forwards Coach of NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes in 2013, McKellar returned to the nation’s capital the next year to join the Brumbies as the club’s Defence and Skills Coach, and then Head Coach of the University of Canberra Vikings in the National Rugby Championships.
In 2018, McKellar was appointed Head Coach of the Brumbies, achieving considerable success over the next five years, highlighted by a Semi-Final appearance in 2019, and consecutive Super Rugby AU Grand Finals in 2020-21, claiming the championship in 2020.
(Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
McKellar’s talents were recognised in the national set-up, where he was the Wallabies Assistant Coach from 2021-23, before taking up his most recent position as Head Coach with the Leicester Tigers.
McKellar is excited to be joining the Waratahs and motivated to bring success to the state of NSW.
“I’m extremely pleased to be joining the NSW Waratahs,” McKellar said in a statement.
“Rugby in NSW has a proud history of over 150 years and the Waratahs are the pinnacle of representation within the state.
“The club fell short of expectations in 2024 but there are building blocks in place to improve on.
“I’m motivated and passionate to deliver a vastly improved performance next season, comprising of consistent efforts that will make the loyal Waratahs fanbase proud.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.