NSW Waratahs enforce strict training field rules after horror injury toll

The Waratahs will play their final trial match this weekend before Super Rugby Pacific starts, but they’ll still be battling against their home pitch, which has come under fire.

The Waratahs have put strict limitations on the use of their Daceyville training pitch following a raft of injuries last season, with incoming coach Dan McKellar saying the turf wasn’t up to scratch when he arrived.

The alarming revelation comes following their 2024 wooden spoon season in which 10 front line stars suffered season-ending injuries and another six spent time on the sidelines.

McKellar was appointed the Tahs’ new coach at the end of last year, replacing Darren Coleman, and was far from impressed with the state of their training pitch.

Waratahs centre Joey Walton during a drill at NSW Rugby's Daceyville training field.

“The field wasn’t great when I turned up, that’s for sure,” McKellar said.

“If you’re training on a crap field, that’s going to load up your tendons and your joints and your muscles if it’s rock hard.

“The boys are training out there four times a week, it needs to be of quality. It’s improved significantly.”

The Waratahs men’s, women’s and academy teams share the Daceyville field, but this year there is a strict roster for training, so the field is not chewed up by back-to-back sessions, while some of the women’s and academy sessions may be moved to other grounds.

NSW and Wallabies prop Angus Bell suffered a season-ending toe injury last year, and is grateful the adjustments have been made.

“The turf last year was terrible, it was pretty tough last year because a lot of young guys sustained some pretty big injuries which is pretty tough on a young player,” Bell said.

“I’ve been through my injuries as well, my body didn’t like that feeling.

“But now it’s a lot better, which is good.

Angus Bell charges forward during a Bledisloe Cup match in 2024 in Wellington. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images.

“It’s important to have a good training field, you do 90 per cent of your work, working towards a game, on the training field.

“We’ve got this beautiful, state of the art facility. It’s awesome now that we can go on the field and get better, work together as a team and not have to worry about the injury stuff which is great.

“[It was] probably too hard, not conducive to scrummaging, it’s a lot better now.”

McKellar added: “We did a lot of research, the quality of the field, making sure that’s where it needs to be, those sorts of things.

“The program is very different now, I’m not sure how they did things last year in terms of what your structure went within your training day and how you trained, because if you get it wrong you’ll expose them to injury.

“I’ve got no idea what they did last year, we’ve certainly worked really, really hard, myself, (head of athletic performance) Tom Carter and the coaching group, both S and C and rugby coaches and medical group to ensure that we don’t expose players.

“We’ve got to take them all the way to the edge, but not push them over the edge.

“So far we’ve been pretty fortunate on the injury front.”

Waratahs five-eighth Tane Edmed chases a kick during training at NSW Rugby's practice field in Daceyville.

The Tahs have their final trial match this weekend in Bowral against the Brumbies before their season kicks off on February 14, and there will be a strong indication of where McKellar wants to play his key stars, particularly NRL recruit Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii.

The 21-year-old is firming to start at fullback, having played his Wallabies Tests at outside centre on the spring tour.

“I wouldn’t like to be changing him every week, it comes down to injuries,” McKellar said.

“Joseph’s utility value is certainly a strong point, he can cover many positions. But I like to pick a player, and give him time to build confidence and get a real understanding of what’s required in that role.

“So I’d imagine whatever position he starts in round one, he’ll play that position for a number of weeks.”

DAILY TELEGRAPH JANUARY 16, 2025. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at NSW Waratahs training in Daceyville ahead of the Super Rugby season. Picture: Jonathan Ng

McKellar added there was no pressure from Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt on where to play the $5 million man.

“I talk to Joe around where I’ll train him and where I’ll expose him, Joe’s not going to tell me where he wants – or tell me he has to play here or there or wherever,” McKellar said.

“He sees the benefit, as Joseph sees the benefit, in training in different positions and continually improving his knowledge.”

Originally published as NSW Waratahs enforce strict training field rules after horror injury toll