Mission Statement:

To provide the BEST Junior Rugby Experience for

PLAYERS, FAMILIES and OFFICIALS

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END OF AN ERA

The Waratahs Juniors are taking formal steps to wind up their operations after no new committee was formed at the 2026 Annual General Meeting.

It’s the end of an era for the Juniors which earlier this season advised they would not be fielding teams in the Hunter Junior Rugby Union competition for the 2026 season after being unable to attract players to the club.

A Special General Meeting held after the AGM on 22 June to discuss the future of the Juniors decided to take formal steps to wind up operations (such as notification to the Department of Fair Trading).

The Special General Meeting also voted that funds held by the Juniors be transferred to The Waratahs Old Boys’ Association to be lodged in a special ’Juniors’ account. The aim of the transfer is to allow The Waratahs club to seek, assess and potentially assist any junior rugby developments or initiatives in the Hunter Region.

The meeting agreed to continue to honour a three-year foundation sponsorship by the Juniors of the Newcastle West club which expires in 2027.

The club’s history …

The Waratahs Juniors were originally formed in 1940 and in the past 86 years have produced 11 Australian junior players, 28 NSW junior representatives and 86 NSW Country junior players, some of whom have gained full national senior honours. These players include mercurial half-back, John Hipwell (1968-81), and Dom Vaughan (1982-83), also a half back.

 The Juniors won 14 club championships, 75 premierships and had 88 players play 100 games, 11 play 150 games and two play 200 matches.