Waratahs add to their coaching group as Mike Catt among new faces

With Dan McKellar joining the club as Head Coach for the next three years, he will be ably supported by new assistant coaches Mike Catt OBE, Dan Palmer, and Lachlan McCaffrey.

Catt OBE, who played 75 Tests for England in a distinguished playing career, will be the Assistant Coach for attack. After retiring from playing, the 2003 World Cup winner has enhanced the attack for London Irish, England, Italy, and Ireland.

Palmer will be the Assistant Coach for set piece. Palmer has worked with McKellar previously at the ACT Brumbies and the Leicester Tigers, and has coached Australia A. Palmer has also donned the sky blue jersey as a player from 2008-10 and played for the Wallabies in 2012.

McCaffrey, another former Waratah, will be the Assistant Coach for defence. McCaffrey was mentored by McKellar during his time with the Brumbies and has also experienced the different playing styles in the UK, Japan, and America. Since transitioning into coaching, McCaffrey has been the Assistant Coach for Otago and the Head Coach for the Gungahlin Eagles.

The Waratahs high performance team has also been restructured, with former club legend Tom Carter taking over as the Head of Athletic Performance after overseeing the athletic performance program for the hugely successful Australian Women’s Sevens team for the last five and a half years.

All coaching and high performance staff have signed on for at least three years.

“We’re thrilled to have acquired such a well-credentialed and experienced group of individuals to lead our club forward,” Director of High Performance Simon Raiwalui said.

“The process encompassed talent identification and analysis domestically and internationally and I’m confident that these men will each make a positive impact on the Waratahs.

“Our players will be blessed with elite guidance and expertise to progress their careers and bring on-field success to our members and fans.”

The Waratahs would also like to pay tribute to the contributions of outgoing Assistant Coaches Chris Whitaker and Pauli Taumoepeau, Head of Athletic Performance Nick Lumley, Team Manager Will Stuart, and physiotherapists Cam Dyer and Alan Robinson.