Having exploded back onto the national radar with a series of international signings, Dan McKellar is getting closer to announcing his coaching team with England great and current Irish assistant coach Mike Catt firmly in the conversation to join the Waratahs.
After the Waratahs and Rugby Australia put a broom through the NSW coaching staff, The Roar can reveal new high performance director Simon Raiwalui is hoping to announce his coaching team by the end of next week.
McKellar’s coaching team is likely to feature a blend of experience and youth, with former Brumbies and Leicester back-rower Lachlan McCaffrey firming to be appointed defence coach.
Former Test prop turned Brumbies, Wallabies and Leicester forwards coach Dan Palmer is likely to link back with McKellar, having followed the head coach to the English Premiership following last year’s World Cup.
But it’s the new attack coach, which will set tails wagging.
The Roar can reveal that Catt, the 2003 World Cup winner turned England and Ireland assistant, is strongly in the mix to join McKellar as his minister of attack.
Catt, 52, is Andy Farrell’s current right-hand man with Ireland and was first appointed to the role by David Nucifora following the 2019 World Cup.
Andy Farrell’s (R) assistant coach Mike Catt (L) with Ireland is in the running to become Dan McKellar’s attack coach. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
It’s believed Catt has long harboured an interest in returning to Australia in a coaching capacity and sees the Waratahs as a destination for his family.
With three World Cup campaigns under his belt as well as a couple of Six Nations crowns, securing Catt would not just be a coup for the Waratahs but the Wallabies with the Lions to venture Down Under next year.
He would be the perfect figure to help guide McKellar’s star-studded backline, which will welcome NRL gun Joseph Suaalii to Daceyville next year and feature Andrew Kellaway and 19-year-old rising star Max Jorgensen.
It’s understood the 2003 World Cup winner, who played one Test for the British and Irish Lions, is up against Brock James for the role.
James, 42, played for Sydney University and spent two years in Super Rugby before carving out a stellar career in the French Top 14, where he played for Clermont for a decade before playing for La Rochelle and Bordeaux.
Hawkes Bay’s Australian coach coach and former French Top 14 star Brock James is another contender for the vacant Waratahs attack coaching role. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Since finishing up as one of France’s highest point scorers, the Geelong-born playmaker has coached with Hawke’s Bay and built a strong reputation after guiding them to last year’s National Provincial Competition final.
The likely appointment of McCaffrey comes after the former back-rower snapped Gungahlin Eagles’ 19-year drought in the John Dent Cup.
McCaffrey is currently across the ditch as Otago’s defence coach in the NPC.
The 34-year-old was a regular under McKellar with the Brumbies and brought a hard-nosed edge in defence and was a pest at the breakdown.
While the back-rower cut his teeth in Super Rugby back in 2010, five years in the Premiership, including three at traditional heavyweight Leicester, who are known for their uncompromising forward play, saw McCaffrey return to Australia with a harder edge.
Palmer’s likely appointment comes after tossing up whether to immediately jump back into coaching after being left frustrated by McKellar’s abrupt departure at Leicester in late June.
It’s understood the former prop immediately resigned upon hearing that McKellar and the Tigers had “mutually” separated.
Former Brumbies back-rower Lachlan McCaffrey is in line to become the Waratahs’ new defence coach. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
After sliding into obscurity over the past decade in Super Rugby following their maiden title in 2014, the Waratahs should suddenly re-emerge as a contender in the years to come.
While it took Michael Cheika 12 months to rebuild the Waratahs in 2013 before their drought-breaking run a year later, McKellar has an important year ahead of him with the Lions to tour next year.
Fortunately, he now has a pack to work with and a backline that needs some nurturing.
Despite losing several familiar faces including Ned Hanigan, Lachie Swinton, Jed Holloway and Izaia Perese in recent months, the Waratahs have added Wallabies stars Taniela Tupou and Rob Leota in recent weeks.
Their signings come on the back of fellow internationals Andrew Kellaway and Darby Lancaster joining the Waratahs.
The Roar can reveal that Isaac Kailea will join the Waratahs too, with the rising loose-head prop putting pen to paper on a one-year deal.
Fellow Rebels players Ethan Dobbins, Angelo Smith and Daniel Maiava are expected to follow suit.
