Angus Crichton has been named in the NSW Waratahs’ 2027 Super Rugby Pacific squad after leaving the Roosters, with returning halves Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps among 13 capped Wallabies in Michael Cheika’s first squad back at the club.
The Waratahs unveiled their squad on Wednesday as all 10 Super Rugby Pacific clubs named their lists for next season, Rugby.com.au reported. Crichton is listed in the midfield.
The former State of Origin forward switches codes after the Roosters’ 2026 premiership, which RugbyPass noted he helped win earlier this month. He won the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series in 2024.
Cheika backs Crichton’s switch
Cheika, who coached Crichton during his time on the Roosters’ staff, said in the squad announcement, as reported by RugbyPass: “I’m hugely looking forward to the other Angus (Crichton) coming over to rugby union. I’ve had the pleasure of coaching him recently at the Roosters and I have no doubt about him making a successful transition back to rugby.”
“We’re very pleased with the overall shape of the Waratahs squad for 2027,” Cheika said. “We have a good balance of types of players in many areas and we’re definitely going to add or reinforce in others.”
Read more: Crichton to switch codes and chase Wallabies jersey for 2027 World Cup
Foley and Phipps, who steered the Waratahs to their maiden Super Rugby title in 2014 under Cheika, were confirmed in August as returning for 2027. Foley has spent the past five seasons with Kubota Spears in Japan, while Phipps played for London Irish and Japan’s Green Rockets Tokatsu.
Angus Bell returns
Wallabies prop Angus Bell is back after a stint with Ulster in Ireland. “Angus (Bell) is clearly an international-level player and those types are a huge part of the way Super Rugby teams play,” Cheika said.
Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Harry Potter, Miles Amatosero and recent Wallabies call-up Teddy Wilson are also in the squad.
Read more: NRL: Sydney Roosters Farewell Eight Players After Premiership
Prop Edwin Langi, loose forwards Isaac Fonua and Marshall Le Maitre, scrum-half Angus Grover and playmaker Joey Fowler are named in a Super Rugby Pacific squad for the first time.
“Being a former back-rower, I particularly enjoyed Isaac (Fonua) and the way he carried and I’m also very interested in the profile of a player like Marshall (Le Maitre), a forward who has the lightning speed of a back,” Cheika said.
Brumbies first up
The Waratahs open their 2027 campaign away to the ACT Brumbies when the season starts on 12 February, Nine reported. The Wallabies in the squad will first play in the Nations Championship in November before joining pre-season in January.
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