SENIOR TEAMS

The Waratahs Rugby Union Club is not entering any teams in the Hunter Rugby Union’s Men’s or Women’s competitions in 2024 due to lack of player numbers.

An Interim Seniors Committee is managing the affairs of the club and the website will be updated during the year.

The Waratahs entered a Women’s team in two pre-season competitions - the Beach 5s tournament at Nobby’s Beach on the Australia Day weekend in January an the Summer 7s in February/March.

The team won the Beach 5s and finished an unofficial third in the Summer 7s as the competition was ‘first-past-the-post’. ________________

BEACH 5s - AUSTRALIA DAY WEEKEND

The Waratahs Women’s team defended their title in fine fashion when they won the Newcastle Beach 5s on the Australia Day long weekend.

Our women players showed a clean pair of heels in the sand to be crowned the champions at Nobbys Beach and retain the trophy they won in 2023.

Congratulations to all players and coaching staff!

Next up will be the Summer 7s staring in February.

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AWARD WINNERS 2023

The Waratahs congratulate all the 2023 award winners who were presented with their trophies at the Presentation Gala in early November.

A good gathering of players and supporters at the Hamilton North Bowling Club saw the following major awards presented during the evening:

• Ron Shoesmith Trophy - Most Improved Player : Tiana Koma

• Churchills Award - Rookie of the Year :

  Kiara Naicoko

• Ray Frost Award - Overall Best Forward :

  Theresa Mauli

• John Hipwell Award - Overall Best Back :

  Jen Mauli

• Kath Kerridge Award - Most Committed Player : Reanna Alexander

• Most Consistent Player : Erami Durbin

• Cyril Burke Award - Overall Best and Fairest: Oaklee Tighe

• Scott McDonald Memorial Trophy - Overall Players’ Player : Oaklee Tighe

• Marge Burke Club Person of the Year :

  Keith Powell

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TOUGH SEASON IN 2023

Congratulations to all our Women players for the 2023 season which completed the competition rounds early August.

The Tahs may not have reached the semi-finals in finishing in fifth position but they showed plenty of ability and team cohesion to be a continual menace to opposition teams.

The Tahs finished with a 6-win/8-loss record and gained more bonus points (11) than any other club in the season.

The final points table was:

Wanderers 62, Hamilton 57, Nelson Bay 37, University 37, The Waratahs 30, Merewether Carlton 27, Maitland 26, Southern Beaches/Medowie 0.

MANY THANKS TO COACHES AND PLAYERS

The Tahs thank the Women’s team coaching panel in 2023 with Frank Ngungutau and Kavelloni Vikilani (Loni) joining forces to guide our players through the season.

The club also thanks the players, many of whom played rugby for the first time this year.

Special mention to Anika Butler on being selected in the Hunter Women’s team for the NSW Country Championships and also in the NSW Country Women’s Corellas to contest the Australia Rugby Shield in Brisbane in late September.

Anika was also joined by Annabel Leighton, Jenny Mauli, Jessica Pham and Aiishya Tipaleota as club representatives in the Hunter Wildfires that played in the Jack Scott Cup competition.