HAPPY TIMES - The Waratahs Women’s Coach, Frank Ngungutau (left), congratulates players and supporters for the 2023 season.

RESULTS OF 2026 AGM

The club’s Interim Seniors Committee will be headed by a group of five people following the 2026 Annual General Meeting held in early March at Hamilton North Bowling Club.

Matt Dumbrill, Greg Taylor, Ken Beveridge, John Gibson and Mark Queenan comprise the committee which will manage operations for the 2026 season.

Committee member, Greg Taylor, told the AGM that The Waratahs were in a healthy financial position but that steps were being taken to gradually ‘wind up’ the club.

The Interim Seniors Committee will consider disbursement of part of its finances in the coming year.

SENIOR TEAMS

The Waratahs Rugby Union Club will not be entering any teams in the Hunter Rugby Union’s Men’s or Women’s competitions in 2026 due to lack of player numbers.

The Waratahs entered a Women’s team in the Beach 5s tournament at Nobbys Beach on the Australia Day weekend in January but the tournament was cancelled after gale force winds wins damaged equipment on the first night

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AWARD WINNERS

The Waratahs last awards were for the 2023 season as no teams tookmthe field in 2024 or 2025.

Major awards presented were:

  • Ron Shoesmith Trophy - Most Improved Player : Tiana Roma

  • Churchills Award - Rookie of the Year :

    Kiara Naicoko

  • Ray Frost Award - Overall Best Forward :

    Theresa Mauli

  • John Hipwell Award - Overall Best Back :

    Jen Mauli

  • Kath Kerridge Award - Most Committed Player : Reanna Alexander

  • Most Consistent Player : Erami Durbin

  • Cyril Burke Award - Overall Best and Fairest: Oaklee Tighe

  • Scott McDonald Memorial Trophy - Overall Players’ Player : Oaklee Tighe

  • Marge Burke Club Person of the Year :

    Keith Powell

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Waratah Rugby Union Women's Newcastle

women’s TEAM: 2018-2023

The Waratahs Women's team performed well since being reformed in 2018.

The team was Hunter Rugby Union’s undefeated Minor and Major Women’s Premiers for the 2018-20 seasons. In 2021 it was named Minor Premiers in a shortened season.

The team was well ahead on the points table when the Hunter Rugby Union was forced to cancel the 2021 competition because of COVID-19.

The Women’s team experienced a mixed season in 2022 after losing some players while others were unavailable during the season. The team finished fourth in the competition but had to withdraw from the Elimination Final when weather conditions caused a postponement of matches and impacted on player requirements.

The 2023 season saw a mixed bag of results where four consecutive losses and a forfeit in the middle of the season dented any chances of a top four position. The Tahs had to settle for fifth position even though they were able to beat the top teams during the season.