Why a Super Rugby match played 11 years ago is inspiring NSW Waratahs young gun Teddy Wilson

He was just a kid but Teddy Wilson remembers in detail a special Waratahs game played 11 year ago. Now he’s hoping to be part of one that inspires other young fans to love rugby the way he does.

Teddy Wilson in training at the Waratahs. Picture: Waratahs Media.

He was just a kid but Teddy Wilson remembers in graphic detail sitting wide-eyed with excitement and glued to the screen watching a special NSW Waratahs game played 11 year ago.

Now the NSW Waratah young gun is hoping that he will soon be part of a match that inspires young fans to love rugby as much as he does.

In 2014 Wilson watched an extraordinary grand final where a Waratahs side boasting the likes of Bernard Foley, Michael Hooper, Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau and Wycliffe Paul beat the Crusaders 33-32 when Adam Ashley-Cooper flew over with a late try converted by Foley in front of 62,000 at ANZ Stadium.

It was a game that confirmed to the halfback son of former Wallabies captain David Wilson - a stalwart of the Queensland Reds - that a professional career in rugby was what he wanted to pursue.

“I remember watching that at home going nuts with my family. It was s great moment,’’ said Wilson, a talented boxer in his teens who captained the Junior Wallabies in 2023 and made his way to the Waratahs via their heralded pathway system.

Captain Kurtley Beale and Waratahs players celebrate the 2014 victory.

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“Watching the like of Michael Hooper, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Bernard Foley, all those guys playing that stacked side.

“It was great to see them win that Super Rugby title.

“I was only young at the time but it's a special memory. It would be pretty cool to be part of something like that.’’

Now 21, the northern beaches based Wilson is living his dream with the Waratahs and working overtime to crack the NSW starting line-up in 2025 as the club works to recover from a season to forget in 2024 where they finished with the wooden spoon.

“The goal for me is to get picked for the 23, be a genuine threat and add value and make a difference and help us win games,’’ Wilson said.

Adam Ashley-Cooper celebrates scoring a try during the Super Rugby Grand Final match between the Waratahs and the Crusaders at ANZ Stadium on August 2, 2014

Wilson didn’t make the cut for the Waratahs thrilling one point opening win of the Super Rugby Pacific season against the Highlanders but unexpectedly played in a drawn trial match against the ACT Brumbies a week earlier in Bowral.

“I wasn’t meant to play, I was just sitting on the sidelines and Jake Gordon went down pretty early in the game and couldn’t play for the rest of the game,’’ Wilson said.

“So I went from sitting watching to going onto the bench and then playing.

“They always remind us to bring our boots just in case so that was definitely a good lesson.’’

The Waratahs have the bye this week with a Tahs A side, which includes Wilson, Zach Fittler, Leafi Talatiana, Clem Hahalolo, Edwin Langi, Toby Brial and Julian Heaven, heading to Canberra for a trial match against the Brumbies Runners.

The Queensland Reds run out for the first time this season against Moana Pasifika on Friday.

In round three on February 28 the Waratahs return against the Fijian Drua in a double header with the Waratahs Women who are kicking off their Super Rugby defence that night.

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