Plans afoot for Shute Shield All Stars to tackle Waratahs in December

Rising stars of rugby union will be put firmly in the spotlight if a bold plan for a series of games against the Waratahs is given the green-light.

After a season of Covid-19 restrictions and mass cancellations, rugby could be reignited in December with an extraordinary two-game series between the best club players in NSW and the Waratahs squad.

New Waratahs coach Darren Coleman confirmed talks have begun with Shute Shield clubs about the proposal but admits there is a long way to go before the matches can be penned into the calendar.

“It is a pipedream at the moment but I am working hard on it,’’ Coleman said on Monday.

The Waratahs have struggled in recent times.

Like all winter sports, rugby has been seriously affected by surging coronavirus numbers in NSW with all major competitions now abandoned.

This included Subbies, junior state championship events, Gen Blues matches and the Shute Shield.

Coleman said initial talks with Shute Shield clubs began last week.

“It’s very early days, very early days,’’ Coleman said.

“It was flagged with the Shute Shield coaches last Monday and they have taken it back to their clubs to work through the pros and cons.

“We will need Shute Shield club support, we will need Covid to ease.’’

Coleman said more work needs to be done and Covid-19 restrictions eased for the matches to go ahead but said he would push forward with the plan.

“If I was a betting man I wouldn’t be throwing a heap on it just yet,’’ he said.

“It will all depend on where we are with Covid come November and December.’’

Coleman said any club players involved would need adequate warning to prepare.

Club rugby coaching legend Darren Coleman is now at the Waratahs.

“All the Shute Shield players, if they do go down that path, will need adequate time to condition and get ready,’’ he said.

“We also have some more conservative plans pinned underneath. If I can’t get that No. 1 project off the ground we have plan B to go to pretty quickly.’’

Coleman, who lead Gordon to the 2020 Shute Shield crown before taking up a role at LA Giltinus, has returned to Sydney to lead the NSW Waratahs who have struggled for wins - and profile - in recent times.

The 48-year-old, who has coached teams at Penrith, Northern Suburbs, Eastern Suburbs, Warringah and Gordon.

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Originally published as Plans afoot for Shute Shield All Stars to tackle Waratahs in December