Darren Coleman named new head coach of Waratahs

Waratahs have confirmed that Darren Coleman has been appointed as the head coach of the club ahead of the 2022 season.

Coleman has an extensive 25-year experience in the coaching field having started as a rugby development officer in Newcastle and was then appointed as head coach of NSW Waratahs Academy in 1998 before becoming a skill coach of Waratahs in 2000.

After leaving Australia to take up a role with Calgary Mavericks in 2002, the 48-year-old returned back to the country to coach in the Shute Shield as head coach of the Penrith Emus for the 2005 season before working with Northern Suburbs, L'Aquila, Toyota Industries Shuttles, Warringah, NSW Country Eagles and Gordon and most recently as head coach of Major League Rugby team LA Giltinis in the United States for their inaugural season in 2021.

“I’m passionate about the opportunity to coach the Waratahs. I’m coming home to what I regard as my dream job, one I’ve been preparing for over many years,” Coleman said in a statement by the club.

“I also know that this role comes with an enormous responsibility to establish a winning team that will proudly represent the people of NSW as a collective of the professional and community game.

“We have a great deal of work to do to regain our place as the best provincial rugby team in the country. That means a team that Waratahs’ members and fans are proud of and the team that every rugby-loving kid in NSW wants to play for as they are growing up.

“I want our players to get back their love of the game, to rebuild their confidence in themselves and in the team. I want them to bring back that winning culture at the Waratahs"

Waratahs finished the 2021 season of Super Rugby Trans Tasman at bottom after losing all their five games.